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.lAIi AND CORRECT 

oTORYOFTHE WAR 

•^^i BETWEEN THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA^ 

AND 

^ GREAT BRITAIN; 

COMPRISING 

A PARTICULAR DETAIL OF THE 

XAVAL AXB MILITARY OPEEJLTIOXS, 

AND A FAITHFUL RECORD OF THE EVENTS PRO- 
DUCED DURING THE CONTEST. 

From its Commencement, June 18, 1812, to the 

Tveaiy of Peace, ratified at the City of 

Washington, February 17, 1815. 



CAREFULLY COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS* 

JS^EW-FOEK: 

1?RINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOHN LOW, 

AT SHAKESPEAR's HEAD, 

NO. 17 CHATHAM-STJttEBT. 
1816. 



^ :.-.rv>. V ■' NxN%^ 



Difitrict of Xew-Tnrh, ss. 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty -third day of Febru- 
ary, in the fortieth year of the 'ndependence of the United 
Ij. S. Stes of America, John Low. of ^he said disti'ict, hatii depos- 
ited i'l this ofu-e the title of a Biiok. the right whereof he 
claims as Fi-oprietor, n the wo;ds follov ing, o ^ it : 

** An Iwipartial and Cor ct History of the W ar hetween the United 
States of America, and tJreat Britain , comprising a particular df tail of 
the iVaval and Military operations, and a fait;:fi .eeord of the events 
produce ! .'uring tb^ contest From i's C-maitnceraent, June l8, lrjl2, 
to the Tr aty of -eace, ratified at the City of »Vasliington, ' ehiuar) 17, 
181.^. Third edition, revised and corre ted. Carefully compiled from 
official documents." 

In contormity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, 
*' An act for the encouragement of I/earning, by securing the copies of 
Ma'.s, Charts, >m'l Pooks. to the anthois and proprietors of such copies 
during the time therein mei tioned And olso to n act, entitled "An 
act ■^up;! 'inentary to an act, eiititlod nn Act for ihe encouragement of 
learni g, by seeming the copies of M ps. Charts, -nd Book?, to the 
author- -lorj propii»^iorsof'such copies din-ng the times t'lerein mention- 
ed, and ^-xt^n.'ing the ben( Iit^ thereor to the art3 oi designing, engraving 
•asd etching historical and otiier prints." 

THEKON KUDD, 

Clerk of ihe Southern District o/JVew-York, 



PREFACE. 



NO era, in the moral world, has excited the 
public curiosity, or effected the general interest 
of mankind, more than the discovery of a west- 
ern continent, in the year ±i9Z. Attracted as the 
public mind was by that event, yet its resulting 
importance was not tlien fully anticipated by the 
most extravagant hopes, or the most acute prog- 
nostics. To convert the natural riches of the 
new world to the advantage of the old, was the 
only object which the kings of Europe wished to 
ac( omplish, or intended to essay. Neither king 
nor subject expected that the western world 
would become the seat of empires, independent 
of European rulers ; much less did they expect, 
that the future monarchs of the east would meet 
in the new world, rivals capable of opposing and 
defeating attempts at continuing in political sub- 
jection, the descendants of emigrants, led to 
the new continent by cupidity, driven to it by 
persecution, or banished as an expiation of theiv' 
crimes. 

It was not until long after the first settlement 
of America by Europeans, that it was sagai-ious- 
}y observed, that " the new world seemed destin- 
ed to give laws to the old." The observation 
drew forth but the derision or contempt of the 
hearers avid readers. A prophecy so improbable, 
and wiiich could not, it was supposed; be accom^ 



ii rREFAGE. 

plished, if at all, in a hundred centuries, was 
deemed too peurile to be credited, and too distant 
to be dreaded. 

The Revolutionary war gave the first substan- 
tial proof that materials for all the purposes of 
self government existed in America. In propor- 
tion as the g«^ni»s and resources of the inhabitants 
were developed, in the same degree did the^f^ find 
advocates in different parts of the world, who 
either saw with pleasure the successful prospect 
which opened itself to the people of the United 
States, (late British colonies,) secretly encour- 
aged and relieved them, or openly supported and 
assisted them. The happy termination of this 
contest, led to the belief, that the theories of po- 
litical prophets were not only probable, but their 
consummation less distant than had been hither- 
to supposed. 

The United States, having by the treaty of 
peace of 1783, become a nation by the consent of 
all other nations, had as if to begin the worlds 
without any other capital than the virtue of the 
cit:zeas, and without security against foreign 
aggression, except what could be drawn from 
their own courage and patriotism. 

As yet their population was little more than 
three millions of inhabitants ; the want of a well 
consolidated confederation, rendered the govern- 
ment weak; and the many incidents and difficul- 
ties attending the attempt to reconcile various 
interests with a general principle, increased this 
difficulty . The speculations as to the future des- 



PREFACE.. 6 

tinies ef the people were various. England had 
concluded peace pro forma, but &he continued 
hostile in fact. Great Britain was but a small 
island? yet her sovereign was a king over exten- 
sive regions, and many islands in various parts of 
the globe: the example of several of her colonies 
rejecting her authority, and uniting in support 
of each other, was dangerous to the parent coun- 
try ; it was found impossible to subdue them by 
force, it was determined to do so by intrigue, 
corruption, and robbery. 

The colonies remedied one great inconvenience 
by forming a general constitution in 1789, which 
stands an unrivalled instance of patriotism, wis- 
dom, and justice; a rapid growth of population, 
and extension of commerce, a cultivation of liter- 
ature, arts and sciences, were fast advancing to a 
point that would outrival England in every respect. 
As this state of things advanced in America^ 
England proceeded to measures of increased vi- 
olence and injustice. Seeking for pretexts, m 
principles novel, unknown to other nations, and 
even contravening her own established practice^ 
she left to Ameri athe ahernative of submission 
to her will, or resistance by war; the latter was 
resorted to. 

The history of the Revolutionary war is al- 
ready before the public. It is a valuable record 
of what men determined to be free, can do. This 
\>ar brought into a phalanx that mass of mili- 
tary patriotism, which under the immortal War- 
B£B, commenced its career of glory at Buiikesr- 



^ PREPACE, 

hill ; and terminated it, under the immortal 
"WAsrtiNGTojv, at York-town. 

The task, now undertaken, must be interest- 
ing to every eilizen of the United States. A re- 
cord of the second struggle against the same en- 
emy, who during seven years of revolutionary 
contest, carried lire and sword, the bayonet, the 
halter, and the tomahawk, throughout the Unit- 
ed States, will surely be an acceptable treat, 

The military talents which spiang as if into a 
miraculous existence during the late war: the 
patriotic courage which displayed itself on every 
occasion ; their successful triumphs in almost 
every battle, are proud proofs, that where genius 
is free to act, and that inHuenced by an amor 
patriae, no dangers are too difficult to overcome, 
110 djfficullies too great to be su!)dued. 
^j,.>» The Jip»>arent military and naval power of 
|g|^jy*land was, to that of America, at the com- 
^ B.encement of the !aie war, as that of the lion to 
Ihe lamb ; but the incensed eagle stretched for- 
•ward his beak, and, with it tore the laurel from 
the Briton's brow ; and, li^^ing over the waters, 
lie wrested with his talons, the trident from the 
*« mistress of the deep.^ 

In giving details of tliese events, these imper« 
isliahle n^onun enJs of Aujericaii glory, a strict 
regard has been had to trulh, nninfiuenced by 
any unworthy cor>idcration, and it is hoped that 
this small voluuse w l! be fourd (o contain as co- 
pinus a view i>f history as could reasonably b^r 
txpeoted, withija so chcamscsibetl a compass^,. 



HISTORY OP THE WAS, ^c^ 



AMERICA seems to have been destined, by 
Providence, as the soil which should give birth, 
strength, and maturity to rational liberty : in 
this respect, its discovery must be considered of 
prime benefit to mankind. Columbus, a lover of 
justice, would have fixed the residence of lib- 
erty in South America, but this extraordinary 
adventurer became the obji^-ct of persecuting ini" 
vy, he was sacrificed at tlie shrine of ambition 
and tyranny ; and, the southern peninsula, the 
only part of the western continent which Co- 
lumbus had visited, was given up to cupidity^ 
plunder, and the most horrific ill-treatment a id 
massacre of its hospitable inhabitants. i'he 
fictitious ri; lies, the goUl, which it produced, 
invited an early and continued migration from 
the oid to the new continent, insomuvh. that the 
Ikitter has already lost, in a great degree, its 
original uucultivated aspect ; and, were the ge- 
ni'is of its new inhabitants not restrained by the 
policy of its rubers, would, ere now, have advanc- 
ed far towards all perfection, to %vhicii nan 
©an aspire. For more than 300 years, has South 
America bowed to th»- ^vill of dtspots. and niaia 
has presented but tike disgusting contrast of ty» 
ra^Us a-'d slaves. A patriotic flame has lately 
diffijsed a gleam of light through the darkened 
atmosphere which overspread the poiitical re^ 



B HISTORY OP THE WAR. 

gion of the soulh; man begins, there to assume 
the character for which God and nature had 
destined him; and philanthropy may hope, that 
the present j^eneration wiil no( pass away, until 
liberty wi!l smile over every part of America, 
and all its iiihabitants be happy. 

The inordinate ambition of hereditary gov- 
ernments, and their jusj jea'ousness of each oth- 
er, have given an unbounded spring to the desire 
of extended domi?uon and foreign conquests, — 
This spirit, however injurious, has, in some re- 
spects, coniributed towards the increased know- 
ledge of geography, the diffusion of general in^ 
formation, and the facilitating of a social inter- 
course between the inhabitants of distant re- 
gions. 

England, famed for the adventurous spirit of 
its inhabitants, and the unequ'^lled ambition of 
its sovereigns, eouhl nut remain an indifferent 
spectator of an European rival taking posses- 
sion j of a new worUl. Exi>editions were soon 
formed for the more perfect discovery. of the 
new continent, John r'abot, having obtained 
a comsnission froii Henry the 7tli of England, 
to discover unknown lands, aitd annex them to 
tiie crown, discovered the eastern coast of North 
America; Sir Francis Drake, subsequently. 
Sailed ahmg it ; and England, by right of prioc 
discovery, claimed its sovereignty.^ Gold mines 
are generally confined to tropical climates ; the 
soil of North America, co'itiguous to the sea, 
a?)peared to be light, sandv, or unfit for profita- 
ble cultivation; the climate was variable and 
unhealthy; the aborigines were more savage 
and inhosr/itable than tho^e of the south. No 
ad< quate inducement presented i- self to new set- 
tles y audj hud tke iniiabitaats of England 120 



BISTORT OF THE WAR. » 

necessity for quitting tLeir native country, they 
never would discover a wish to transfer their 
residence to the then iiihospitahle climate of 
jVorth America. A stimulus was not long 
wanting. 

The granting of immense tracts of uncultiva- 
ted wilds to individuals or companies, was not 
likely to induce any rapid settlement. Individ- 
uals might, for the purpose of enhancing ihe 
Talue of their personal fortunes, influence 
emigrants to settle on their new estates ; ^nd 
these settlers, having changed their residence, 
might he compelled to ahide hy a choice from 
which it would he difficult or impossible to re- 
cede. But their reports and their fate would 
reach their friends ; emigration would cease or 
be too slow for any efficient purpose : decrease 
of population, by insalubrity ol climate, and the 
inroads of Indians, would be little, if at all, over- 
balanced by births, and the accession of trans- 
ported felons. 

Man, in all stages, is a lover of liberty, rea- 
son dictates that he has rights ; but this reason 
obscured by arlifieial ignorance and enervated 
by habitual bondage, becomes incapable of ac- 
tion, and insensible to the true extent of his mise- 
ry. 'I'he slave feels pain, without knowing 
whence it o'iginates, or how it should be reme- 
died. This observation is strictly applicable 
only to corporeal slavery. The slavery, exer- 
cised over the conscience, is that, in support of 
which no sophistry can prevail ; and, to which, 
no term, no length of eiidurance, can reconcile 
the sufferer. No prescription can justify the 
practice of enslavement in any ( ase ,• a?ul mo 
slave, however abjeet will admit it in cases af- 
fecting his conscience. God bus iostilled, into 



10 HISTORY OF THE \VAK. 

tlie heart of man, certain religious duties ; andy 
"whenever the fulfilment of these is forbidden by 
human edicts, the injured person fears not to 
revolt or seek an asylum against persecution. 
AVith God on his side, he fears no other power, 
and can be happy in a wilderness or in a cave. 

It is not now necessary to enter into a detailed 
view of the persecutions against Christians in 
Europe. Who that has not heard of them ? It 
is sufficient to observe, that no difficulties, real 
or imaginary, could deter the persecuted Chris- 
tians from seeking an asylum, where, free from 
interruption, they might adore their God, as 
eonseience dictated. America offered that asy- 
lum ; and to this circumstance it is due, that 
the wilderness is so fast giving way to cultiva- 
tion, the internal resources of the country have 
been explored and rendered operative, the seem- 
ing insurmountable objects, of the new coun- 
try have disappeared, and a state of comfort 
equal to that of any part of Europe has been 
produced. 

This comfort was wickedly marred by the 
British government, while it ruled the North 
American colonies. A fiesire to proceed to the 
chief object of this work, and its limits preclud- 
ing any particular recital of these evils, leaves 
only room to remark, that they were such as to 
create much unhappiness in the colonies, to pro- 
duce complaints, remonstrances, and petitions 
to the mother country; and finally, were car- 
ried to such excess, as to be no longer suft'er*' 
able. 

On the ever to be remembered 4th July, 1776, 
the people of these eolo ies. by their represen- 
lativps in congress asssembled, having published 
a muderitte, but firm, a grievous, but true state- 



HTSTOHY OT THE WAR. ll 

nient of the multiplied injuries, inflicted on them, 
hy the Britisli king and governuient, deelat ed 
tl;at the united colonies ** are, and ot* right 
ought to be, free and independent states." These 
United colonies consisted of (lie states of New- 
Hampshire, Mussa 'husetts, Rhode Island, Con- 
neiMicut, New York, New-Jerse\. Pennsylvania, 
Delaware, Maryland, V^irgin?a, North Caroliia, 
South-C'aioiina, and Georgia; leaving England 
in possession of the provinces of Upper and Lower 
Canada. Now Brunswick, and \ova-S'0(ia. 

The contest, whij-h succeeded, was I'.mked on 
by the world, with astonishment. : its novelty 
and its in»portance excited general interest* A 
few people, without an ariny, without arms, 
without discipline^, or munitions of war. without 
money, without allies, opposing their unorgan- 
ized force against a n^tio^i rich and powerful, 
with numerous ships, armies, and navies, hav- 
ing discipline, money, credit, and all the means 
of warfare, and being in possession of the colo- 
nies, the inhal)'tants of which declared them- 
selves absolved from all allegiance to the crown 
of Great Britain, was a crisis of uncommon mo- 
ment. The contest was long and severe ; a blood- 
thirsty vengeance on one side, led the British to 
the most shameful excesses ; a determination to 
live free or die, guiiled the people of Ameri.a, 
under the direction of the great Washington, 
and the other sages a2»d pat'iots in the field 
and the cabinet, to a completion of all they 
wanted, all tliey wished. Tyranny looked down, 
liberty rejoiced, on the completion of the happy 
triumph. 

The wound inflicted on the pride and interest 
of England, by this disruption of her empire, 
was truly great, but still greater thaa was thea 



13 HISTORY OF THE WAE» 

contemplated. Under the dominion of England, 
the increase of population would he slow, the 
Increase of commerce and manuiaetures still 
slower : tlie country would be a warehouse for 
British manufactures, the inhabitants, a nursery 
for British armies and navies. It was necessary 
that a people should Ue free ; that genius should 
be unchecked, irfdustri? unfestrained. in o'der 
to prove, how far fiee men were f,uperior to 
%vhatever theory could conceive of them. The 
experiment has been successfuJly tried in the 
United Slates. 

'I'he country of a monarch would not in a cen- 
tury recover from injury such as had been suf- 
feri'd bv the United States. But the people of 
America lelt all their toils and losses compen- 
sated by the acquisition of freedom ; they stood 
erect, and, as if by magic, appeared in all the 
might of a nation. In less tlian thirty years, 
their country shook oif the aps>earance of a howl- 
ing wilderness, their pepuLititm increased three- 
fold, rheir manufar-tn^es increased so as to sup- 
ply nearly all their waists, and every sea wit- 
nessed their inrmensely iricveased external (rade j 
in short, they became the livsils of England. 

\ long course of wars, and the re^olurionary 
war of Ameiica, more than any other, increased 
the national debt of (Ireat Britain to a great and 
burthensome amount. To meet this exigency, 
as well as to gratify the national wish, and to 
provide for the further and growing charges in 
support of f.>reign colonies, an imreased trade 
was necessary. The industry of Englishmen 
showed itself in the successful and unparalleled 
exteu?»ion of her manufactures, and the policy 
of her rulers ain)ed at an un^livid d foreign 
commerce, in sup^iort of the home system. 



HISTORY OV THE WAH. ^ IS 

The naval siiect'sses of Britain, (lurin.g the 
Frcneli war, had nearly a^coiJiplishrd iwv vast 
di'sign. The shijjs ;>f HaliancL Tran'-e, l^;rta- 
gal, Spain, and Italy, had noarlv di>a )pf'as(-d 
IVojii the ocean; those of Riissiu, aful thf other 
naval powers of the north of l:<^uro!;e, had be*'ii 
gained over to the litilish inid'eyt, or d.siroyed 
hy the superiority of her flv^ets. rho ITnjted 
States, althouj^li in a state of infiney was yet 
the only r.ation that had virtue or coiira.i^e sinH- 
cient to move in a just course, uniaflueueed by 
intrigue, and unintiniidated by niena 'e. To- 
'wards this natio i. llritain for years manifested 
the most un. generous, injui*i')us and covyaidiy 
eond;!ct ; amounting, in its effecfs, to war, while 
the United States pnrsuin.^ an honorable and 
pacific course, was debarred from nrakiuj'^ repri- 
sal. This one sided war, had it been permitted 
to continue, would have sunk the States in tJie 
esteem of foreij^n nations, dried up the sourees of 
(heir growing greatness, reduced them to a state 
of contemptibie imbecility, aud. not improbably, 
to a merited state of depe^idance — they migtit 
again become colonies— British colonies. 

Hitherto the Americans looked but little to 
home manufactures, the capital of the merchant 
was emplovcd on the ocean, and the people of 
the interior found sufTieiejit employment in til- 
ling the soil. There was a i^reat and profita- 
ble demand for every kind of produ-e, and the 
citizens were in the habit of receiving manufac- 
tures of al' kinds f.*om foi'cign nations, and par- 
ticularly from Eng'and. 

Had I:!^ngland bi'en satisfied to contend for 
commercial superiosity by fair means, she 
would long, ver-v long, continue to supnly the 
United States with almost every kind of manu- 

B 



i^ HISTGIIY OF THE WAK*, 

follow, and lliiis each bolrigerent ptoccetl io fc» 
P'/h1 their respective ediets, pari pcmsUf accord- 
int; to their respective dates, until all the oflen- 
sive d. cives shouhl be annulled. 

Wlien, however, the French decrees had been 
annulhd. the British, under the most equivoeat- 
in.i<, iiinisT, and false pretexts, continued to act 
on tlicir i orders in Council ; until after the decla- 
ration ch war by America, it is true tJiat the 
Biilinh fj;overnnient could not be acq^iainted ^vitil 
tfic declaration of war at the time of the repeal 
of the Orders in Council, it must, however, be 
«once{!ed, that Ihey were aequainted wilh the 
iVmerican embarp;o, which was generally under- 
stood to be preparatory to war; nop could they 
doubt that war wouSd be declared, urJess they 
believed that^ America had lost all political vir- 
tue. A state of war superceded all use which 
the British could make of the Orders. in Council, 
Their repeal was marked by the greatest con- 
tenjpt for, and insult to the United States. 

Ml*. Caihoun, from the committee of foreign 
relalions, to whom the President's message was 
referred, by the house of Kepresentatives, made 
a long and luminous report of the 3d June, ISli. 
"which concluded by recommending an appeal 

TO AKMS. 

The report was, after two ineffectual motions 
Io have the doors opened, ordered to lie on the 
tab!e. 

Mr. Calhoun, from the same committee, cm 
leave given, presented a bill, declaring war be- 
tween Great Britain and her dependencies, and 
the United States, and their terr'tories. '^J his 
hill was warmly opposed and debated for two 
days; when the question being taken, shall the 
said bill puss ? It was resolved in the aMrma- 
tive. 



mSTOllY OF THE WAR, ±7 

The Yeas and Nays were as follows : 
YEAS. 

J^ent) ' Ham fi shire. Dinsmoor, Hall, and Hfirpcr — 3; 

Massachusetts. Seuver. Carr, Green, RichardsoDj 
Turner, and Widgery. — 6. 

Rhodt- Island. Is^one. 

Vermont. Fisk, Sliaw, and Strong. — 3. 

Connecticut. None. 

Ketv York. Pond, Avery, and Sage. — 3. 

J^s'^ew-Jerseij. Condit, and Morgan. — 2. 

Pennsylvania. Seybert, Anderson, Brown, Ro- 
berts, Fiiidley, Smilie, Lyle, VVhiLehill, Bard, Davis, 
Lefever, Hyneman, Piper, Lacock, Crawford, and 
Smith. — 16. 

Delaware. None. 

Marijland. Kent, Little, M'Kim, Ringgold, Brown j 
and Vrcher. — 6. 

Virginia. Nelson, Gliolson, Goodwyn, Newton, 
Taliaferro, Dawson, Basset, Smith, Hawes, Roane, 
M'Koy, Pleasants, Clopton, and Burwell — 14. 

A'orth- Carolina. Alston, Blackledge, Macon, King, 
Cochran, and Pickens. — 6. 

South-Carolina. Williams, Cheves, Lowndes, But- 
ler, Calhoun, Earle, Winn, and Moore. — 8. 

Georgia. Troup, Bibb, and Hall. — 3. 

Kentucky. Johnson, Desha, New, M'Kee, and 
Ormsby. — 5. 

Tennessee. Rhea, Grundy, and Sevier.— 3. 

Ohio. Morrow — 1. 

NAYS. 

J^env-Hamfishire. Bartlett, and Sullivan. — 2. 

Massachusetts. Qui-cy, Reed, Taggart, Ely; 
Brighum, White, Tailman, and Whi^aton. — '8. 

Rhode-Island. Potter and Jackson.— 2. 

Vermont. Chittenden. 1. 

Connecticut Sturges, Davenport, Mosely, Champi- 
ion, 1 allmadge, Pitkin, and Law — 7. 

MtwYoik, Bleecker, Emot, Cooke, Fitch, GolcJ^ 



18 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

S.»mmons Stow, Tracy, Van Cortlandt, Mitchill, and 
Matcalf— 11. 

jYeW'Jersey. Boyd, Hufty, Maxwell, and New- 
lboM.~4. 

Pennsylvania. Milnor, and Rodman, — 2. 

Delaware. Ridgely. — 1. 

Maryland. Key, Goidsborough, and Stewart. — 3? 

Virgiiiia. Randolph, Lewis, Buker, Bitckcnridgej 
and Wilson. — 5. 

JSTorth-Carolina. Pearson, M'Brydc, and Stan- 
ford — 3. 

South'Carolina. Kone. 

Georgia. None. 

Kentucky, None. 

Tennessee. None. 

Ohio, JN'one, 

Yeas 79 
JN'ays 41> 

•Majority for War 30 

<^n th«^ b\\\ of June, a conildenlial message 
was rece-ived by the Senate, l^oiu the House of 
Hepiesentatives, bv Mr. Macon and Mr. Find- 
le,v, two of their meiJibers — Mr. Maeon, chair- 
man : 

" Mr. President — The House of Representatives- 
bave passed a bill, enntled, * An act declaring war 
between Greai-Biiiain und her d pendencies and the 
United States and their territories; in which they 
ask the concurrence of the S- nate ; and request that 
the bill be considered confidentially.*^ And they 
withdrew. 

The bill, from the House of Representatives^ 
"was before the Senate, fiom da^v (o day, until 
the I7tii June. It underwent a very enlarged 
ili'e'ission, met wi<h much and violent oppo- 
sitiott^ but fiually passed that body on the latt^ 



HI9T0KY OF THE WAB, 19 

day ; there appearing for its passage, 19 ; against 
it, 13. 

The act was passed into a law on the 18th, in 
the iollowing words: 

AN ACT 

Declaring War beliveen the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland^ and the dependenciea 
thereof^ and the United States of America^ and 
their territories^ 

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Refire* 
sentatives of the United States of America^ in Cori" 
gress assembled, That WAR be, and the same is 
hereby declared to exist between the United King- 
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependen- 
cies ther of, and the United States of America, and 
their territories ; and that the President of the Unit- 
ed States be, and he is hereby authorised to use t!ie 
whole land and naval force of the United Stares, to 
carry the same into effect, and to issue to private 
armed vessels of the United States, commissions or 
letters of marque and general reprisal, ii; such form 
as he shall think proper, and under the seal of th» 
United States, against the vessels, good*,, and effects 
of the government of the sf.me United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland, and the subjects thereof. 

June 18, 1812. 
APPROVED, JAMES MADISON. 

On the following daj (i9th June) war wa» 
declared, Uy pioelamanon, the ijuiKMion of se- 
crecy being previousiy removed hi both houses 
of Congress. 

A peace of nearly 30 years, during which the 
Anicrieans atiended hut little fo iniprovernen(& 
in the arts of war, rei»dered them apparently & 
•ver> unequal match for a nation whose armies 
and navies were njore rfUir.erous than they had 
Jn^Qii ut any foriuei' peviod. Xii« best friends ef 



20 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

America feared much for the fate of the little 
American navy. It was also supposed that our 
undisciplined armies must experience several 
defeats from the well trained regulars of Eng- 
land ; but those, who knew any thing of the re- 
volutionary war, felt no doubt as to what would 
be the event of the present. The wonderful 
exploits, and happy issue, that remains to be re- 
corded, will show, that even the warmest en- 
thusiasts did not probably anticipate renown and 
glory, such as was in store for Americans. 

The public prints, on both sides, were warm 
in their denunciations of their respective oppo- 
nents, and threats of what would and could be 
performed. The following are given as speci-^ 
mens. 

From the London Courier^ 

*< America knows not that the vigour of the Britisli 
empire increases with the necessity of exerting it— 
that our elasticity rises with the pressure upon us— - 
that difficulties only make us more firm and un.iaunt- 
ed — that dangers only give us the additionai means of 
overcoming, them. It is in such a state of affairs, in 
such a great crisis, that a nation like Great Britain 
becomes greater. We arc now the only bulwark of 
liberty m the world — placed, a little spot, a speck al- 
most on the ocean, between the old and the new 
world, we a e contending with both ; w'th one arm 
we are beating the armies of the master of the Con- 
tinent of Kurope, and ivith the other luv shall smite 
his Piefect on the Continent of Ain^eica." 

From the J^cm* York Morning Post. 

« With a stone and a sling only, America com- 
menced the war oF 1 sdependence. Without arms^ 
without clothing without monev, and without credit, 
we took the field ; relying upon stout hearts, and the 
assUtauce of God tor ttie success of £i n^lueou& 



HISTORY OT THE WAR. 21 

cause. The event has proved, that with such reli- 
ances, a nation has nothing to fear. Our country has 
air-in tlu'ovvn itself upon the protection of the Lord 
of Hosts ; we need but prove faithful to him and to 
ourselves. Victory will again crown our efforts, and 
peace and plenty reward us for our toils. Who, that 
is truly an American, will despair of the success of 
his country ; who will dare to believe we can be 
otherw so than CONQUERORS ? We had imagin- 
ed this impossible, except with the agents of the ene- 
my ; yet in a crisis so important, not only to us, but 
to posterity, we have found that the spirit of treason 
has dared to stalk abroad, even at noonday, amongst 
us. Is tlie enemy so strong in the camp — so confi- 
dent of support, as to hazard a fearless defiance ? 
We are, it is true, proud to exist in a land of free- 
dom — but when men threaten us with giving the as- 
sistance of their pens to the cause of our adversaries, 
who will hesitate to say that such freedom becomes 
traitorous ?" 

The state of the regular ^rmy was, at this 
time, such as scarcely to deserve the name. — 
The militia, with the exception of a few uni- 
form companies in the cities, consisted of a ;^eo- 
inanry and others accustomed to parade for a 
few hours each year, some with bad arms, oth- 
ers without any. The preparations for war or 
the land, was confined to an expedition under 
the command of General Hull, of which notice 
will he taken in the proper place. The nav^ 
consisted of the following vessels. 

List of American Vessels^ and their force. 



President, 


44 


Com. Rodgers. 


Constitution, 


44 


Captain Hull. 


Uni:ed Stutes, 


44 


Decatur. 


Chesapeake, 


36 


Ordinary. 


New-York, 


36 


Do. 



23 



HISTORY OI- TRE WAR. 



Constellation, 


36 Ordinary. 


Congress, 


36 Capt. Smith: 


Boston, 


32 Ordinary. 


Essex, 


32 Capt. Porter. 


Adams, 


32 Ordinary. 




CORVETTE. 


John Adams, 


26 Capt. Ludlow. 




SHIPS OF WAR. 


Wasp, 


16 Capt. Jones. 


Hornet, 


16 Lawrence. 




BRIGS. 


Oneida, 


16 Com. Woolsey. 


Siren, 


J 6 Lieut. Caroll. 


Argus, 


16 Crane. 




SCHOONERS. 


Vixen, 


12 Lieut. Gasden. 


Nautilus, 


12 Sinclair.' 


Enterprise, 


12 Blakely. ^ 


Viper, 


12 Bainbridge 


170 Gun Boats,, Capt. Slmw. 




BOMBS. 


Vengeance, ^ 




Spitfire, f 
-£tna, y 


Ordinary. 


Vesuvius, ^ 


) 



Commodore Rodgers, being at New- York, ©n 
i?eeeiving the Presitlent's proclamation, announc- 
ing war, addressed his men on the occasion^ 
offering their wages and a discharge to such as 
Avere unwilling to risk their lives with him. A 
general buzza preceded the declaration of every 
individual to '* stand or fall vvitli the Commo- 
dore." TJie anchor was heaved, and, before 
night, the Commodore passed the light-house of 
Sandy Hook, and proceeded to sea. having; un- 
der liis command^ the frigates President^ Uaitetl 



HISTOHY OF THE M AH. 2S 

Slates, and Congress, and the sloops of Avar 
Hornet and Argus. TJie Commodore returned 
to Boston after a cruise of 72 da\s, during 
•wliicli he passed williin one day's sail of the Brit- 
ish channel, passed near the island of Madeira, 
and the Azores, and returned by (he banks of 
Newfoundland and Cape Sable, He made 7 
captures and 1 re-eapture,* and ehased two Brit- 
ish frigates, one of them the Belvidera. This 
cruise was of great bi nelit, as it compelled the 
enemy to concentrate his force, by whieli a vast 
quantity of property was saved from failing into 
ihe eneiisy's hands. 

The President, while chasing the Belvidera, 
received a considerable number of shot in her 
sails and rigging, but was not materially injur- 
ed. One of the President's guns bursted. by 
"which 3 men were killed, and ninteen wounded. 
By this accident, the Commodore's leg was frac- 
tured. The chase lasted from 6, a. m. on the 23d 
June, until midnight. 

On the day after the Commodore sailed, the 
following appeared in the New-York Colum- 
bian, and accounts for the escape of his Britan- 
nic Majesty's vessels of war, Belvidera and Tar- 
tarus, w hich had been for some days off Sandy- 
Hook. 

" Tt is undoubtedly a fact, that dispatch-boats 
with infoi motion have been sent off to the British 
vessels which were cru'sing off the harbour, since 
the drclaration of war. By ivhom they were sent 
ofF, it is not necttssary at present to mention. But 
this much may, and ought to be said — that if it was 
done by an American citizen, he has commi'.ted trea' 
son by the laws of the United States, and deserves, 
and may receive a hanging for it. There is no sus- 
picion, however, entertained, that such an infamous 



2^ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

act has been done by any American- As it has there- 
fore been the act of the subjects of the king of Eug- 
laiid, whether they are in or out of office, the aci is a 
violation of tne hospitality -which tolerates their re- 
sidence in our city, and calls loudly upon the consti- 
tuted authorities to put the law^> immediately in force 
aguiiist alien enemies, and to rid the city of spies, or 
at least of such as disgiace their character by acting 
in so iiifumous a capacity." 

1( is however a lamentable fact, thai the ene- 
sr.y had his iuihei'ents wi<hin the LnitVd States, 
coni^lsting of native citizens, as well as of for- 
eigners. The puhMe were apjuised of the in- 
famous and eowardlj mea^is usc'd b;^' the fJritish 
to corrupt the citizens, bj the agency of hired 
incendiaries among whom the notorious Joint 
Henry was conspicuous. 'I lie first effusions of 
the press were walclied with care, and tlje citi- 
zen-, indignant at the cond««el of the British gov- 
©rnmeiit; which rendered war not onlv necessa- 
ry, but unavoidable, were ready to construe 
every opposition to government, into an act of 
adhesion to the enemy. 'I'ne spirit of 1776 
seemed to revive, and the terms <* Whig" and 
« l^ory." were again coming into use. The 
party, which designated itself as *^ Federal," was 
long opposed to the officers of the general gov- 
ernment : and were in the practice of conderan- 
Sng, opposing, and thwarting all its measures. 
'I'his party, to be consistent, also opposed the 
"war. — There was another party opposed to war, 
inereJy because it must prove injurious to Eng- 
land ; this was properly a British tory party, 
and should be distinguished from those federal- 
ists, who, notwithstanding their opposition to 
mciu were yet Americans, The torv endeavour- 
ed to screea himself beneath the semblance of 



HISTOUY GV THR WAR. 2j 

federalism ; and the federalist, wlio could weak- 
ly lend the mask, should not complain, it* both 
should be faken ibr torics. 

There were several editors of federal polities 
*vho deserved and received the applause of their 
political opponents, for conduct pursued imme- 
diaCely subsequent to the de(*!aration of war. 
The following extract from a federal paper, de- 
serves particular notice : 

From the United States'* Gazette^ firinted at Phila- 
deljihia. 

*' The people of this country, whatever may be 
their opinions of this incomprehensible war, demand, 
and will insist that it now be carried on with the vi- 
gour necessary to accomplish the object of all war, 
honour while it lasts, and real peace and security 
when it ends." 

A paragraph of a seemingly different com- 
plexion, appeared immediately aHer the decla- 
ration of Mar, in the *< Federal Republican,'^ 
printed at Baltimore, and edited by Mr. Wag- 
ner. It was in the following words: 

" We mean to represent in as strong colours as we 
are capable, that the war is unnecessary, inexpedient, 
and entered into from partial, personal, and as we be- 
lieve, motives bearing upon their front, marks of un- 
disguised foreign influence, which cannot be mistak- 
en. We mean to use every means of constitutional 
argument, and every legal means, to render as odious 
and suspicious to the American people, as they de- 
serve to be, the patrons and contiivei-s of this highly 
impolitic and destructive war, in the fullest persua- , 
sion, that wf* shall be supported^ and ultimately ap- 
plauded by nine-tenths of our countrymen, and that 
our silence would be treason to them.*' 

The citizens, in a state of high irritation, pro- 
ceeded in the evening of the 22(1 June, to Mr* 
c 



26 HISTORY OP THE WAE. 

Wagner's printing office, which was destroyed. 
This procedure was ibUowed by some rioting; 
and the paper was removed to Georgetown, 
(Col.) where it continued to be printed. 

On the 7th July, an order was issued from 
the department of state of the United States, re- 
quiring all British subjects to register their 
names, ages, places of residence, persons com- 
posing their families, &c. at the office of the 
marshal of the United States, for the district in 
which such subjects resided. This order was 
followed by others directing alien enemies, who 
were engaged in foreign commerce, to remove 
from the vicinity of the sea or tide water. The 
information constantly conveyed to the enemy, 
from the ports and harbours (f the I nited 
States, was supposed to render such a measure 
necessary. It would be mi • h to the honour of 
Ihe citizens, if this treasonable intercourse with 
the enemy were confined to aliens ; subsequent 
infornjation, obtained at the navy department 
of the United States, has sufficiently proved that 
several profligate citizens have also held com- 
munications with, and supplied the wants of the 
enemy. 

A cartel ship arrived in July^ at Boston, from 
Halifax, and delivered on board the U. States* 
frigate Chesapeake, three seamen, formerly ta- 
lien out of that frigate, by the British frigate 
l<eopard. 

It will be recollected that the Leopard attack- 
ed the Chesapeake in time of peace, while the 
latter was unsuspicious of an attack, and unpre- 
pared for defence. The Chesapeake was fired 
into, boarded, and these men taken by force 
from her, 

Remonstrauce on the part of the United 



HISTORY OF THE WAH. 27 

States, Avasmade to the Biitisli government, and 
redress demanded for this wanton bieaeh ot'ihc 
laws of nations. Fhe British government dis- 
avowed any agency in tlie act ; but yet promot- 
ed the eomiiiander of the Leopard, not to the 
yard arm of a ship, hiU to the eommand of a 7i. 
The restoration of ihese men had been, for some 
time, promised by tue Brifis!» government ; it 
Avas pleasjj'g to see it eftleled so soon after the 
dechiratjon'of war. Whether the war had any 
iniltienee in this transaetioii, must be nsatter of 
conjecture, in which the reader will exercise 
iiis own opinion. 

This is not the only instance in which war 
produced a change to those Americans who were 
impressed and eonfmed on board British men «>f 
war. Several of them, having declined serving 
against their country, weie sent to prison as 
prisoners of war, and became entitled to be lib- 
erated by excliange. This mode of treating 
them, after their character as Americai ciii- 
zens, was acknowledged, was certainly unjust ; 
they should have been fully released, not hav- 
ing been taken in time of war, or in arms, they 
were entitled to rank as non-combatants. 

On the 1-tth July, Mr. Foster, the late Britihh 
minister, and Mr. *Barcla> late consul, departed, 
from the United States, at New York, on board 
the British flag of truce Colihri. These gen- 
tlemen were much esteemed for their private 
amiable qualifies. 

The first British victory over the American 
fleet, happened on the 20th of July. On this day 
the United States' schooner Nautilus, Lieutenant 
Crane, fell in with a ileet of t lie enemy, and was 
captured, al^er a cliase of eight hours. No 
honour was lost by the Americans on this oc 



'ZS HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

©asion ; i\\e vast disparity of force, I'endered pe» 
^is<ance as impriuit'nr, as it Avould be unavailing. 
The brave conunander's s\vord was returned^^ 
by the British olHcer, Com. Brooke, as an ac- 
knowlcdgiiient of the skil! and bravery with 
which he esHlcavouicd to save his ship. Lieut, 
Crane, and his crew, wei'c af(e» wards liouonrably 
uc<jniikd, by a court of enquiry, of all censure 
h\ the loss of tfjo Kuutiius. 

<h» the irth of this «Hne month, the frigate 
ConHtidJtion, Captain Hull, chased a British fri- 
,^ate into a British fleet, and was chased in turn, 
on the ^o!lo^vJng morning, by the enemy, consist- 
ing of a sliip of tfic line, four frigates, a brig, 
and a schooner. The chase continued 60 hours. 
I'lie Constitution arrived safe in Boston. The 
great address, hy which Captain flull saved his 
Hliip, di'ew forth the admiration of the enemy> 
and the applause of his countrymen. 

It was the wish of the Americans, as they 
also endeavoured in a former war, to induce the 
Indians to be neutral. Humanity and civiliza- 
tion plead in favour of a principle which would 
not adt! savage barbarity to the other evils of 
war; but unfortunately, the policy of a <• mag- 
nanimous" enemy was diflerent. The Ameri- 
•^ans soon learned that the enemy had leagued 
himself with the ruthless savage of the wilder- 
ness; the known warfare of the tomahawk and 
scalping- knife was to act in concert with the 
modern invention of rockets ; in short, all means 
within the power of the enemy were to be com- 
hined against the people of the United States. 

The first act in which the alUi'd Indians and 
British signalized themselves, was in the taking 
oT the fort of Michilimaekinac, on the 17th of 
July, 1812. The garrison consisting of b7 ef- 



HISTORY »F THE WAR, 2^ 

feetive men, including officers, was commanded 
hy Lieutenant Hanks, of the artillery, I'hc 
first notice he received of the declaration of war, 
was in the form of a suinnioas, to surrender the 
. fort and island to his Britannic majesty's forces. 
Tlie enemy, contemplating a state of war, had 
been for some time preparing an expedition for 
the attack of Miehilinsackinac. The place of 
rendezvous was St. Joseph's, a British garrison, 
distant from Miehiiimaekinac, about 45 miles. 
So prepared were the British, that they were 
enahled to embark the next day, after being ap- 
prised of the declaration of Avar. Lieutenaiit 
IJanks having received information on the 16th, 
of the hostile attitude of the Indians, sent Cap- 
tain Daurman, of the militia, to watch the mo- 
tion of the Indians; he embarked about sun-set, 
and met the British forces within ten or iifteen 
miles of the island, by whom he was made pri- 
soner. Evei'y possible preparation was made hy 
the garrison to resist an attack, if such should 
be attempted ; but the appearance of a powerful 
enemy, with artillery, scaHng-ladders, &e. induc- 
ed Lieutenant Hanks to submit to terms of capi- 
tulation, by which the fort was surrendered to 
the British forces, commanded by Captain Kob- 
erts. The American garrison was made prison- 
ers, and sent to the United States, not to serve 
until regularly exchanged. 

The British force consisted of regular troonsj, 
46 ; Canadian militia, 260 ; Indians, 715. — To-* 
tal, 1021. 

The probability of an approaching war had 
determined the United States' government to a- 
dopt some measures necessarily preparatoi-y to^ 
that event. 

Oi3 the 19th March, i 8^ ?, Major James K.Muf- 



so HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

iany, of the infantry, was di reeled by the seere- 
iary of war. Dr. Eustis, to proceed to Philadel- 
pliia, and ascertain the slate of forwardness in 
T^vhie-h the clotliing for the new troops was. This 
was executed, and report made accordingly. 
On or about the t2th April, orders were received 
at New-York, to commence the recruiting ser- 
Tiee. By this time the U. S. was divided into 
military districts, and Major Mullany appointed 
to the command of the western district, (New- 
York.) M'ith his noted zeal and activity, he 
arrived at Geneva, on the 20th April, 181;^, and 
located there, with necessary instructions, a val- 
uable ollleer, (Captain Mydert M. Dox.) In a 
few days, the olHcers assigned to this district, 
■^vere supplied with funds and instructions, and 
martial music gave awful warning of wliat was 
likely to follow. The ditficulties that ignorance 
and treacherous opposition excited, is no way in- 
teresting at present. Manly exertion, good judg- 
ment, and a righteous cause, surmounted every 
scheme of faction, and soared successfully over 
evci'y s])eeies of prejudice^ Citizens most noted 
for acrimonious sarcasms towards the measures 
iieeessarily adopted at that period, soon buried 
their mistaken apprehensions in the national 
good, and were amongst the most active in aiding 
the eiforts of the officers of the army. 

On the 26tli of May, a circular order was 
transmitted to the following officers, having for 
its object the coneentration of the recruits of the 
^vestern district, at Canandaigua, to organiz© 
them for the field, viz. 

Captain Dox. Infantry, Geneva. 

Captain M'Keon, 3d Regt. Artillery, Canandaigua^. 

Captain David Scott, Infantry, Batavia. 

Captain R. H. Morris, Infantry, Cayuga. 



HISTORY OF THE WAH. 31 

1st Lieutenant, Wm. Clarke, Infantry, Auburn. 

1st Lieutenant, John M. O'Connor, 3d Regt. Ar- 
tillery, Buffalo. 

1st Lieutenant, Samuel Chipman, Infantry, Bath. 

2d Lieutenant, W. Martin, Infantry, Lima. 

2d Lieutenant, Henry Whiting, Infantry, Buffalo. 
By Order,— J. R. MuUany, Maj. Comdg. 

Signed, — J. H. Rees, Lt. 3d Artillery, Adjt. 

The olficiul news of the declaration of war, 
reached Major Mullany on the 27th June, 1812, 
one day later than the express with it to the 
British, passed Canandaigua, (the head-quarters 
of tlie district,) The man employed on this oc- 
casion, hy the friends of Enj>land, was a citizen 
of Albany, well known by sevei^al real patriotic 
men, residing in the western country, on whom 
lie imposed. He stated that he was conveying, 
express, the news of the declaration of war, lo 
Fort JViagarcif in consequence of which strata- 
gem, he succeeded in obtaining every facility, 
that money and horses could give him ; and thus 
did the British receive the news one day before 
it was known at Canandaigua, from whence may 
he dated the fall of Mic^iiiimackinac, and ' a 
train of other disasters on the frontiers. Having 
delivered the despatches at Queenstown, he re- 
turned immediately. He met General Peter B. 
I*orter at Batavia, who cj^uestioned him on the re- 
port then general, of such an express having 
passed, but he very adroitly escaped, and was a- 
gain interrogated on his arrival at Canandaigua, 
by Major Mullany, v«ho was closely watching bis 
return. He soon discovered him, and placed him 
under guard, after reading to him the .^7th ar- 
ticle of the articles of war. His deposition was 
taken before a master in chancery, and forward- 
ed to Governor Tompkins, the same night, ^hom 



$2 BISTORT OF THE WAR. 

it reached in thirty hours, distance 208 miles. 
The gentlemen who emplo;yed tlie despatch were 
taken prisoners, and held to bail, and evidence 
given the governor, that, although the despatches 
did communicate the vole of Congress, declarirg 
war.stil I the eommunicat ion was shnp/?/ ?rier«mf i7f , 

At this time the settlers on the Niagara f ron» 
tier became much alarmed ; they were daily 
threatened with a visit from the Indians, and 
their houses no longer offered them safety or 
protection. Several settlements had been aban- 
doned, and nothing was heard along the frontier, 
in imagination at least, but the hostile yell of the 
relentless savage. 

The following letter (not hitherto published,) 
was, on this occasion, directed to Major Mul- 
lany: 

Black Rocki June 28, 1812. 
Sir, 

There is every reason to believe that the British 
meditate an attack on fort Niag^ara, and that it may 
be attempted within twenty-four hours from this 
time. If they once pass the river, it is impossible to 
say how far they may proceed. — Under these very 
urgent circumstances 1 dispatch an express, to re- 
quest that you will immediately march the men un- 
der your command to our assistance. Although you 
may not have received orders authorizing you to 
comply with this request, I am persuaded the occa- 
sion will justify you, as your men can be of no poss^i- 
ble use at Canandaigua, or any other place along the 
south shore of the Lake, and are undoubtedly intend- 
ed, ultimately, for this place. ^Bring with you all the 
arms and ammunition in the Canandaigua arseaal. 
In great haste, yours respectfully, 

PETER B. PORTER, Q M. G. 
0/ the Slate of JVew- York^ 

Major Muilany, > 



tllSTORY OF THE WAK. S3 

Majoi" Mullany, in consequence of tlie receipt 
of this letter, marolied witli his command for the 
protection of the Niagara fi-onticr. 

Another evidently material precaution, was the 
stationing a competent force in the Michigan ter- 
ritory, for the protection of the inhahitants, 
against the incursion of the enemy, as well as 
for the purpose of acting oifensively, if suck 
should be deemed prudent. General Hull had 
been at the seat of government in the spring 
previous to the declaration of war, where he 
made arrangements for conducting a force to 
Detroit. He accordingly proceeded to Dayton, 
on the Mad river, one of the waters of the great 
Miami, 60 miles by land, and about 75 miles by 
water, from its mouth. .Here Governor Meigs, 
of the state of Ohio, surrendered to the general 
the conirr.aiiu of 15Q0 voluJUcers, who liad been 
raised for this purpose, and were commanded by 
Colonels M'Arthur, Cass, and Findlay, by the 
election of the volunteers. 

On the 27th May, General Hull pitched his 
tent in camp Meigs, when, the troops being form- 
ed in a hollow square, the flag of the United 
States was unfurled, on which occasion, a short> 
but animated and impressive address, was de- 
livered by Colonel Cass. 

On the 1st June, the 4th United States* regi- 
ment, commanded by Colonel Miller, joined 
General Hull, when he resumed his march, and 
reached the rapids of the Miami about the last 
of June, having then urtder his command about 
2500 m'en. 

From Dayton to Detroit, a distance of more 
than 150 miles, the army had to cut a road through 
the wilderness; the land was soft or swampy, 
and the labour of bringing on carriages and ij:^ 



3* HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

tillery. excessive. The Indians showed little dis^, 
position to obstruct the passage of the troops. 
Governor Meigs proceeded with the arni}' as far 
as the Urhanna. wliere he held a council with 
some Indian chiefs, when it was agreed, that 
prace shou-d be maintained between them and the 
United States. The General put on hoard a ves- 
sel, the baggage and hospital stores of the army, 
with an offi(^er and 30 men, wi(h direetions to^ 
sail for Detroit, 'i'he British having been ap- 
prized of the declaration of war, captured the 
vessel at Fort Maiden, n.outh of Detroit liver^ 
and thus the armj suff* red a serious loss. 

On the evening of the l^th July, General Hull 
€iO!ssed the river Detroit, whieh divides the 
United Srates' terrirory of Michi^^an from fhe 
British province of Upper Canada, and fixed his 
head f|imHcrs at (he town of Swodwieh, about 
two miles within the British province. From 
tJiis ph'vC<^ Iw* published a proclauiation, of which 
the following is a comity : 

BY WILLIAM HULL, 

Brigadier Ge 'eral and Comnuwder of the JVorth 

Western army of the Ujiited States : 

A PROt LAMA HON. 

Inhabitants of Canada, 

After tiiirty years of peace and prosperity, the 
Un.ted States have been driven to arms. The i;.ju- 
ries and aggressions, the insults and inclignitits of 
Grea'-Btitain, have once more left tNem no alterna- 
tive but manly resistance, or unconditional submis- 
sion. The army under my command has invacled your 
country ; the standard of the union now waves over 
the territory of Cafiada. To the peaceable unoffend- 
ino: inhabitants, it brings neither danger nor difficulty. 
1 come to find enemies not to make them. X come 
to protect, not to injure you. 



HISTORY or THE WAR, 55 

Separated by an immense ocean, and an extensive 
wilderness, from Great Britain, you have no partici- 
pation in her councils, no interest in her conduct. 
You have felt her tyranny ; you have seen her in- 
justice ; but I do noi ask you to aveniic the one, or 
to redress the other. The Un ted States are suffici- 
ently powerful to afford every securi y, consistent 
with their rights, and your expectations. 1 lender 
you the invaluable blessing of civil, political, and re- 
ligious liberty, and their necessary result, individual 
and gi neral prosperity; that liberty which s^.ive de- 
cision to our councils, and energy to our conduct, ii\ 
a struggle for independence, which coiidu ted us 
safely and triumpiiantly through the stormy period of 
the revolution — the liberty which has raised us to 
an elevated rank among the nations of 'he world ; 
and which afforded us a greater measure of peace 
and security, of wealth and improvement than ever 
fell to the lot of any people. In -he name of my 
country, and the authority of government, 1 promise 
you protection to your persons, propeuy, and rights ; 
remain at your homes ; pursue your peaceful and 
customary avocations ; raise not your hands against 
your brethren. Many of your fathers fought for 
the freedom and ind pendence we now enjoy. Be- 
ing children, therefore, of tht same family with us, 
and heirs of he same heiitiige, thf arrival of an army 
of friends must be hailed by you with a cordial wel- 
come. You will be emancipated f om tyra: ny and 
oppres ion. and restored to the dignified station of 
freerlora. Had I any doubt of eventual success, I 
might aak your as.-ristance ; but 1 do not. I come 
prepared for every contingency — \ have a force which 
will break down all opposition, and that force is but 
the v in-gUdi'd of a much greater. If contrary to 
your own in'ensts, and the just expectations of my 
country, you should rake part in the approaching con- 
test, you will be considered i.nd treated as enemies; 
and the horrors and calamities of war will stalk be- 
fore you. If the barbarous and savage policy of 



S6 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Great Britain be pursued, and the savages are let 
loose to murder our citizens, and butcher our women 
and children, this war will be a war of extermination. 
The first stroke of the tomahawk — the first attempt 
with the scalping-knife, will be the signal of one in- 
discriminate scene of desolation. No white man, 
found fighting by the side of an Indian, will be taken 
prisoner — instant death will be his lot. It tiie dic- 
tates of reason, duty, justice, and humanity cannot 
prevent the employment of a force which respects 
no lights, and knows no wrong, it will be prevented 
by a severe and relentless system of retaliation. I 
doubt not your courage and firmness — I will not 
doubt your attachment to liberty. If you tender 
your services voluntarily, they will be accepled rea- 
dily. The United States offer you peace, liberty, 
and security. — Your choice lies between these and 
war, slavery and destruction. Choose then ; but 
choose wisely ; and may he who knows the justice 
of our cause, and who holds in his hand the fate of 
nations, guide you lo a result the most compatible 
with your rights and interests, your peace and hap- 
piness. 

By the General, 

A. P. HULL, 
Ca/itain of the ISlh Untied States* regiment of In/an- 

try^ and Aid'de Camp. Head-quarters^ Sandnvich, 

July 12, 1812. 

WILLIAM HULL. 

Tills proclamation was well calculated to in- 
spire eonlidenee, and secure the friendship of the 
Canadians. The American tioops were in high 
spirits, anxious to be led against the enemy's 
post at Fort Maiden. The British force, con- 
sisting of regulars, militia, and Indians, was in- 
ferior to the .\mericans. as appeared by the offi- 
cial communication of the British general Brocks 
to his government. The moment seemed la- 



HISTORY OF THE WA.lBt. ST 

v<9ural)le to strike an important, perhaps a deci- 
sive blow. The Indians, except a few of whom 
bad joined the British, remained neutral, watch- 
ing Avitli their nsual sagacity, until Ihcy could 
discover on what side victory was likely to perch ; 
nearly all <\\e, Canadian militia had deserted. 
Colonel M« Arthur was detached with 150 men, 
to the river Thames, where he captured a con- 
siderable quantity of ammunition, arms, and 
blankets. Some hundreds of Merino sheep were 
captured by another detachment. 

On the 15th July, Colonel Cass, with about 
300 men, reconnoitcred the enemy's posts. The 
Colonel ascended the river Aux Canards, to a 
ford, where he crossed, aad descending on the 
south side, attacked and repeatedly drove a par- 
ty of the enemy's regulars, which was stationed 
at a bridge, five miles above Amherstburg, the 
enemy having formed and returned three times t 
night put an end to the pursuit. The Americans 
returned the ibllcwing day to camp without in- 
terruption. Frequent skirmishing was kept up 
between other detachments of the American 
army, and the enemy, in the neighbourhood of 
Fort Maiden. The time of attacking Fort 
Maiden was determined on at a council of field 
officers, and pi'^parations made for advancing to 
the attack, when, by an unexpected order, the 
plan of attack was abandoned, and Canada eva- 
cuated on the 8th August, shamefully leaving to 
their fate, the Canadians who had joined the 
American standard. 

This gave time to the enemy to be reinforc- 
ed, and it soon was rumoured in the American 
camp, that the commanding officer intended to 
surrender his army, in the event of an attack by 
the enemy. This seemed so unaccountable^ 

D 



SS HISTORY or THE WAR. 

at a time ^vlien superiority of force was on the 
American side, that the otFscers hxul resolved, in 
the event of the rumour heing we'li-fQiuHled, to 
divest the general of his command. The exe- 
cution of this plan was prevented by the ab- 
sence of two commanding officers of regiments, 
who were ordered Oij detiicliments. I'he Firit- 
ish heing reinforced by about 400 men, and the 
Indians becoming mere decided, General lii'oek 
advanced, and took a posilio-; opjjosite to Detroit, 
where, without interruption, he established a 
small battery. 

On the i5th August, the town of Detroit was 
summoned to surrender, which being refused, a 
liring began from the British batteries, which 
was retsrned by the Amerivans, and continued, 
wiih little effect, until night. At d.*y-light. on 
the 16tli, the firing re-commenced on both sides, 
the enemy commenced the landing of tioops be- 
low Detroit, which being soon etTictcd. they 
inarched in close column of platoons, twelve in 
front, toward the fort of Detroit. 

Against this body of troops not a shot was fir- 
ed, although it advanced in a situation within 
the range of the American cannon. When the 
British reached within. 100 yards of the Ameri- 
can line, orders were given by Gen. Hull for the 
troops to retreat to the fort ; and soon after, the 
fort was surrendered, and the American army 
became prisoners of war. 

By a proclamation immediately issued by tlie 
Britisli commander, (Gen. Brock.) it appears 
that General Hull had also surrendered the ter- 
ritory of Michigan. 

This was a severe and unexpected blow against 
the Americans. It gave rise to a court martial 
on the conduct of General Hull, which will be 



IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR. 39 

noticor] in i(s proper pliice ; it, in a i^reat degree, 
destroyed tlio coifldeiKM; tlio Canadians liad in 
thr .J^ovei'aiiieat and arnis of tlio Uniteci States ; 
it deU'rmt;v(l t!ic hnlian« to take part with the 
cnesny^ a'jd lod not only to a pi'o^o?)gafion of the 
Avar, hut to many, or perhaps all of tliose savage 
act's of murder, in whieh the Indians were suh- 
sequent iy engaged, against the cilizens of the 
Iin;(e(3 States. " 

(lenera! I?iill. in !iis ofTifial account, states, 
iVi-^t at the time the enemy advaneed against De- 
troit, he c :)n!d nai bring into the field more than 
(300 nien, that the regular force of the eaemy, 
then advanci]>g, was ninch more than that num- 
ber, and twice that nnnil)er of Indians. 

An UiTi^/ial letter from Colonel Cass^ who had 
a command under General Hull, nnt the hiislness' 
in quite a dif!i^rent light, concluding with the fol- 
lowing paragraph. 

" I was informed by Oen Hull, the morning after 
the capitulation, that the British forces consisted of 
1800 regulars, and that he surrendered to prevent 
the effusion of human blood. — That he magnifii-d 
their regular force nearly five fold, there can be no 
doubt. Whether the philanthropic reason assigned 
by him is a suffieient justification for surrendering a 
fortified tov/n, an army, and a territory is for the go- 
vernment to delermine. Confident I a'n. that had the 
courage and conduct of the General been equal to 
the spirit and zeal of the troops, the event woukl 
have been as brilliant and successful, as it now is dis- 
-astrous and dishonourable." 

The British oHieial aeeoiint is positive as to 
the inferiority of the enemy's foiee. 

The following extract fi'om the ofileial report 
of Sir George Prevost, will show liow^ weak the 
garrison of Amherstbarg, or Maiden was, at 



^ HI3T0KY OF THE TVAK. 

ihe time when General Hull passed into Canadijj 
liaving then under his command nearly 2500 
jiien. 

<t The garrison of Amherslburg consisted (at th« 
time -when General Hull passed into Canada,) of a 
subaltern's detachment of the royal artillery, com- 
manded by Lieutenant Troughton ; of a detachment 
of 300 men, of the 4l3t regiment, under the com- 
jpand of Captain Muir ; and of about as many of the 
militia ; the whole under the command of Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel St. George, inspecting field officer of 
militia in the district." 

A few days before the surrender of Detroit* 
Major Van Horn, of Colonel Findlcy's regiment 
of Ohio volunteers, was detaehed with about 
200 men, to proceed to the river Raisin, to rein- 
force Captain Brush, who, with a company of 
Ohio volunteers, were escorting provisions for 
the army. At Brownstown, a large party of 
Indians formed an ambuscade, and the major's 
detachment received a heavy fire at a few yards 
from the enemy. The whole detaehment re- 
treated in great disorder, and could not, by 
any exertion of Major Van Horn, be rallied. — 
On this occasion, there were 7 officers and i.0 
privates killed, besides a considerable number 
wounded. 

Before the return of Major Van Horn, an- 
other detachment consisting of 600 men, under 
the command of Lieut. Col. Miller, was ordered 
to proceed to the river Kaisin, to open the com- 
munication to the river, and protect the provi- 
sions, which were under the escort of Captain 
Brush. Lieut. Col. Miller marched from De- 
troit OB the 8th August ; and on the 9th, about 
4 oVlock in the afternoon, the van guard, com- 
manded by Capt. Snelling, of the 4th U. S. regU 



HISTORY or THE WAK, 41 

inent, v.as fired upon hy an extensive line of In- 
dians and liiilish, at the lower part of Maj^uago, 
about li miles tVoni Detroit. Capt. .Sneliing 
maintained his ground in a nsost gallant man- 
ner, under a very heavy lire, until (he arrival 
oftlie nr.iin bod;/, under Lieut. Col. Miller, when 
a geueral Jittuck was made on the enemy, who 
^vas eompclied to retreat before the Americans. 
The route continued until fatigue, and the ap- 
proacli of night, rendered it necessary to desist 
from further pursuit. 

A sliort time previous to the surrender of De- 
troit, a provisional agreement was entered into 
hy General Dearborn, and Colonc 1 Baynes, the 
Bi'itish adjutant-genei'al, tliat neither party 
sliouh! act offensively befort^ the dtcision of the 
Amei'ican government should be taken on the 
siibjeet. rhis suspension of hostilities, was 
grounded on a letter from Sir George Frevost, 
Governor of Lower Canada, to Ge-^eral Dear- 
born, suggesting the probability of a general 
suspension of hostilities, in eonsequeiice of a pro- 
posed suspension or repeal of the iiritish order's 
in eou leil, of which .VJr. Foster, late mini«-tei' 
lo the Lnited States, had received advices on his 
arrival at Halifax. Wliether Governor Prevost 
seriously believed all whi' h he rcjiresenfed. or 
that the suspension of hostilities, whieh did not 
include the operations of D 'troit, was intended 
to fa^our the fii'itish army in that quarter, can- 
not now be determined ; it, however, enabled 
the British to reinforce General Brock, and pro- 
bably contributed to the fall of Detroit. J'he 
American government, viewing the British pro- 
position as coming in an indii'cct nranner, offer- 
ing no satisfactory security for its observance^ 
and adhering with little variation to their for 
d2 



43 HISTORY OF TUE WAB. 

mer pretences, did not hesitate to disagree to 
the pi'oposal. The armistice terminated on the 
8th Septemher. 

The disgraceful surrender of Detroit was, m 
some degree, to be compensated for, hy the 
bravery of American seamen. On the 19tb 
Aug. 1812, the American frigate Constitution,^ 
Captain Isaae Hull, fell in with his Britannic 
majesty's frigate Guerriere, Captain J. R, Da- 
©res, in lat. 40, 20, N. Ion. 55, W. and after a 
severe action of 30 minutes, during which tho 
Americans displayed great superiority in tactics 
and courage, the British ship suirendered. 

The Guerriere suffered so much in her rig- 
ging and liull, and was so entirely disabled, that 
it was found impossible to tow her into port ; she- 
was of course burnt, by order of Captain Hull^ 
as soon as the prisoners were removed. 

The Guerriere had been formerly a French 
44, but was rated only at 38 ; she carried 49 
guns. 

The following official account of her capture 
from the French ,^ by the Briiish naval captain, 
Lavie, places this poir.t in an indisputable view^ 
as the advocates of Britain^ sorely hurt by this 
proof of the superiority of A merieaa naval tac- 
ucs, endeavoured to misrepresent the relative 
size and force of the American and British fri- 
gates. 

From Capt. Lavie to Lord Keith. 

Blanche, Yarmouth, July 26, 1806. 
« My Loud— I have the honour to acquaint you of 
my return to Yarmouth today, having in comp»ny: 
the Guerriere frigate, commanded by Monsieur Hu- 
bert, of the Legion of Honour, whom T captured on 
the 19th inst. in long 62, ofi" the Faro Iskndsj afte^^ 
a sharp contest of 45 giinutes." 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. ^ 

<' Le Guerriere is of the largest class of frigates^ 
mounting fifty guns, with a complement of 317 men, 
but they were very soon sadly reduced by our de- 
structive fire, and the ship has also suffered very se- 
verely, while the damages of the Blanche were con- 
fined to the topmasts, rigging, and sails. 

" THOMAS LAVIE.^ 

The following is a return of iLe killed and 
wounded. 

On board the Constitution, one lieutenant of ma- 
rines,and six seamen — Total killed, 7. Two officers, 
four seamen, and one marine — Total wounded, 7. 
Total killed and wounded, 14. 

On board the Guerriere, killed 15, wounded 63> 
missing 27 — Total, 105. 

The most enthusiastic joy was manifested 
throughout every part of the United States, on 
the arrival of advices of this engagement. Cap- 
tain Hull and his men received, wherever they 
appeared, the most unbounded applauses. Thanks 
were voted by Congress, and by several public 
bodies; and Congress appropriated 50,000 daU 
lars, to be given to the officers and crew of the 
Constitution, as an indemnilieation for the loss 
sustained by the destruction of the Guerriere. 

Her navy was the chief boast of England, and 
on it was her chief reliance; yet she was des- 
tined to meet her greatest wounds and disasters 
on the watery element. 

On the 17th July, the British appeared before 
Sachet's Harbour, with the Royal George, of 2^ 
guns, the I*rinee Regent, of 22. Ebnira, of 20, 
Seneca, of 18, and anotlier armed vessel, A 
message was sent ashore, demanding the sur- 
Teuder of the \merican vessel of war, the One*, 
idaj ^d ajso the hite British schooqer^ NelsoR> 



46 HISTORY or THE >VAK. 

seized for ii breach ot the revenue laws. A 
compliance with this demand being peienipto- 
rii^' refused, the eneni^ advanced witliin gun 
shot, A liring bcigan from a 32 pounder asltor^, 
and was returned by the squadron, wiiich stood 
off and on. A brisk cannonading was continued 
for moi'e than two hours, when a sliot fiom the 
32 p(>under havi.ig raked the liag sliip of the^ 
enemy, as she was wearing to give another 
broadside, the squadron fired a few guns, and 
bore away, for Kingston, the citizens greeting 
them with the good okl tune of •» Yankee Doo- 
dle," from all the music at the post. The Bri- 
tish shipping appeared to be much injured. JXot 
a man lost on the American side. 

The steadissess of the American troops, and 
the alacrity with which tlje neighbouring detach- 
ments and volunteers, to the aniouiit of nearly 
3000, assembled for the protection of this im- 
portant post, was, at this ear^y stage of the war^ 
a pleasing presage of wUat might be hereafter 
expected, when men would become more inured 
to danger. Col. Bellinger comma =ded the A- 
meiican troops. Capt. Woolsey, who command- 
ed the Oneida, having sailed fiom the harbour, 
and reeonnoitered the enemy, returned and 
n.oored his vessel, with a spring on her cable, 
neiir the batter;^ ; and giving the command of 
her to his lieutenant, he went ashore and took 
command of the 32 pounder, \>hich, under his 
direction, did very considerable damage to the 
enemy. 

The Frigate Essex, Captain Porter, sailed oh 
a cruise, fiom New York, on the 3d Jul>, and 
arrived in the Delaware, the 7th Se{)t< u bcr* 
On the 13th August, the l^^ssex fell ir: with 'Le 
British, sloop of war Alert. The Alert bom 



uistohy op the war. 45 

down, and commenced an action, Avhich lasted 
eight minutes ; she was mucli cut to pieces^ bad 
scAen feet water in her hold when she struck, 
and three men wounded, llie Essex received 
no injury. 

Captain Porter having thrown the guns of the 
Alert overheard, despatched her as a cartel to 
St. John's, in Newfoundland, with about 500 
jjrisoners which he had taken in the Alert, and 
from other captured vessels. 

This measure was adopted in consequence of a 
written agreement between Captain Porter of 
the Essex, and Captain Laugharne of the Alert. 
It was calculated to convenience both parties, 
and to lessen the evils of warfare. A proposi- 
tion originating in the humanity of the American 
commander ought to have been met by the most 
prompt and faithful acquiescence by the prison- 
ers, and the British commanders. Lieutenant 
P. Wilmer was sent in command of the Alert, 
which was to be sailed by her own crew, so great 
was the confidence placed in their honour ; yet it 
appears that the crew took the command of the 
vessel from Lieutenant Wilmer, and went on 
shore without submitting in any manner to his 
controul. Admiral Sir T. Duckworth, who 
commanded at St. John's, countenanced this con- 
duct in the first instance, but afterwards submit- 
ted to the arrangement, which, he nevertheless, 
contended, was " utterly inconsistent with the 
laws of war." 

Governor Prevost, of Lower Canada, issued 
a proclamation on the 19th September, by which 
all citizens of the United States are ordered to 
qnit Canada by the 15th of October; till whick 
time they may depart with their moveable pro- 
perty, by permissioa of three of the council. 



46 HISTORY OP TUB AVaK. 

After tliat time, every citizen of the United 
States, found in Canada, will be treated as a pri- 
soner of war, unless he has taken the oath of al- 
legiance. 

A considerable force havl'^g been assembled hi 
the neighbourhood of Niagua river, undei' the 
command of M.»j. Gen. Stephen Van Rer.ssehier, 
"with the view, as was generally undt^rstood. of 
effeeting a descent upon the British province of 
Upper Canada; a strong and inspatient di sire 
was discovered avnong the troops to try their 
strength against tha enemy. 'Vhh :i,! nduaily rose 
to such a height, that resistance io ii seemed 
scarcely, if at all possible: patriotism was pass- 
ing the limits of subordination. ** This (says 
tlic general in his official comTniinicatiaii jo Gen. 
Dearborn) was expressed to me through various 
channels, in the shape of an al'eriviiive ; ihut 
they must have orders to act ; or. at all hazards^ 
they would go home.^^ 

Impelled by this consideration, the general 
made dispositions for the intended a(ta«^^k on the 
British post at the heights of Queenstown. Some 
information gained from a person who was en- 
gaged to pass over to Canada, and who returned 
safe, seemed to warrant an attack, which, be- 
sides the immediate object might have a con- 
trolling effect upon the movements at Detrijit, 
where it was understood the British Genera! 
Bro'k had gone, with all the force he could spare 
from the Niagara frontier. 

An ifitention to transport troops across the 
river, on the morning of the 11th October, was 
frustrated through means of a boatman, selected 
for his skill and steadiness ; but who, g<»ing a= 
head in the extreme <larkness, passed tlie intend- 
ed place far up the river, and there fastened his 



MISTOHY OF THE WAR, 47 

"boat to the shore, and abandoned the detachment. 
In this front boat nt^arly every oar belonging to 
all the boats were deposited. Tlie expedition 
was given up, and the detachment returned to 
camp. 

This circumstance, so far from damping the 
ardour of {he troops, seemed to give additional 
force to the desire of encountering the enemy. — 
A second attempt was determined on. 

A detachment from the 13th regiment con- 
sisting of about 300 men under the command of 
Col. Chrystie, and about 300 militia, command- 
ed by Col. Van Uensselaci-. received orders from 
the general <0(»*ossthe Niagara River on the 
morning of the 13th inst. which was in part ef- 
fected before day, under a very heavy and de- 
structive fire of grape and musket shot from the 
British. 

In crossing the river, three boats with troops 
one of which contained Lieut. Col Chrystie, 
were carried by the rapid current of the river 
far below the point of landing ; and as soon as 
Col. Chrystie's boat touched the shore the only 
guide to the ground left the colonel. 

In consequence of this disaster not more than 
200 men, at tii'st effected a landing. Those few, 
however, marched on under a heavy fire, and 
foimed a line on the front of the battery, wheie 
they were sheltered by a bank, upon the summit 
of which there was a battery, which had proved 
very destructive to officers and men. From the 
fire of this battery, and that of a house on their 
right bank. Col. Van Renssehiei* was wounded, 
and likewise Capt. Armstrong, Capt. Lawrence, 
Capt Wool, and Lieut. Lent; killed. I ieut. Vai- 
!eau and Ensigij Mnrris, all of the 13th. 

T'Ol. Van Rensselaer's wounds were severe, a 



48 HISTORY OF THE WAK^ 

ball passed through his right thigh, entering just 
below the hip bone; another shot passed through 
the sam« thigh a little below ; a third through 
the calf of his leg, and a fourth cartoused his 
heel. Lieut. Col. Chrj'Stie did not arrive until 
some time after this, and was wounded in his 
hand, in passing the river. Col. Van Rensselaer 
was still able to stand; and, Mith great presence 
of mind, ordered his men to proceed and storm 
the fort. 

Sixty deter nftined men, led by Capt. OgHvie, 
seconded by Capt. Wool, (though wounded) and 
Lieut. Kearney, Lieut. Carr, Lieut. Hugginan, 
and Lieut. Saramons, Ensign Reeve, of the 13th, 
Lieut. Randolph, and Lieut. Gansevoort, circu- 
itously mounted the heights, gave three cheers, 
and immediately charged; and, after the third 
charge, gained complete possession, which they 
kept about ten hours. Among those sixty were 
ten of the militia. During the time they had 
possession of the heights, they received some re- 
inforcement. Lieut. Col. Chrystie eifected his 
landing, and a body of militia, amounting, in the 
whole, to about 500. Cel. Scott superseded Capt. 
Ogilvie in the command ; soon after which the 
British received a reinforcement from Forts 
George and Chippawa, amounting to about 1100, 
including Indians. The Indians were soon re- 
pulsed and driven to the wood. 

Capt. Ogilvie, of the 13th regiment, who led 
the detachment that succeeded in taking the re- 
doubt upon the heights, was much exposed while 
at the top of the precipice; he resolutely continu- 
ed brandishing his sword as a signal to his men 
to advance. The exertions of Capt. Wool, in 
urging on his men, after he was wounded, were 
is^irited and conspicuous. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 4^ 

After tliis, both parlies were considerably re- 
inforced, and the conflict became severe and 
general ; the enemy was compelled to retreat at 
every point of attack, and the route was follow- 
ed up, with great spirit by the Americans. 

Reinforcements continued to arrive under Capt; 
Gibson, of the artillery. Captains Mackesney and 
Lawrence, of the infantry; and Colonels Mead, 
Allen, and Stranahan, of the militia. A little 
l)efore 2 o*clock in the afternoon. Gen. Wads- 
'worth, Lieut. Col. Chrystie, and Maj. Mullany* 
passed over. The enemy, at this moment, re- 
ceived a reinforcement of several hundred Indi- 
ans from Chippawa, and commenced a furious at- 

* This statement is given from the best account 
that could be procured. The compiler has Coli 
Mullany's authority in saying, that this was the fifth 
time he passed over during the engagement. From 
an official report of Col. Mullany to Gen. Van Rens- 
selear, dated 5th Jan. 1813, (the original of which 
is in the office of the War Department, but which 
has not been published) the following extract is 
given ; 

" I cannot in justice close this communication, 
without expressing my astonishment at the omission 
ofits.(Col. Muliany's detachment) arduous, its des- 
perate duties in your official detail of that day, al- 
though indiffierent as to myself, satisfied I will yet 
have justice done, when the scenes of that enierprize 
are better known. Many of my officers merited a 
full share of public notice ; and, from my know- 
ledge of you, Sir, to a want of coiTect information, I 
ascribe the cause of complaint." 

Gen. Van Kensselaer, in reply to CoU Mullany, 
dated Albany, Jan. 23, 1813, acknowledges and re- 
grets the omission in his official detail, in which ihe 
services of the Col. and his command were omitted. 



50 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

tack, but were promptly' met? and pQuted by tlie 
rifle and bayonet. Victory seemed complete. 

The General observing a hesitation in the em- 
barkation of troops, he passed over to accellerate 
their movements. Could the details of this day 
be here closed, all would be honour, all would 
be glory to the American character. But it must 
be recorded ; alas ! it cannot be concealed, that 
no persuasion of the general, or of Lieut. Col. 
"Bloom, who, although wounded, rode through the 
camp, nor of judge Peck, who also exerted him- 
self on this occasion, could influence the remain- 
ing troops to pass into the boats. A large rein- 
forcement from Fort George, soon aftervvards 
was seen coming up the river; this reinforce- 
ment obliqued to tlie right from the road, and 
formed a junction with the Indians in the rear 
of the heights. 

The superiority in numbers of the British and 
their Indian allies induced the American officers 
to hold a consultation, at which they were dis- 
posed to dispute the ground they held ; but a 
note was received from Gen. Tan liensselaer, in- 
forming them he could afford them no assistance, 
and that he would cover their retreat at the bat- 
tery at Fort Gicy, and furnish boats to re-cross 
the river; and finding by Col. Stranahan that 
the militia would no longer act, a retreat was re- 
soivedupon. They retreated in good order, with- 
out the loss of a man, to the margin of the river 
but, to their extreme mortification, not a boat 
'was their to receive them, nor did any arrive. 
After remaining in this extremely painful situa- 
tion about a quarter of an hour, this little band 
surrendered to about five times their number. 

Previous to this, l;o\vevcr, a cohinsn of British 
regulars advanced, commandetj by Gen. Brock. 



HISTORY OV THE WAR, 51 

The British Gcncrars horse was killed hy a pri- 
vate of the name of Wiiklow, who was enlisted 
in Orange county ; shortly after whi^h tho gen- 
eral himself fell, within pistol shot of the Ame- 
riean troops. 

The enemy consisted of a part of (he 49th re» 
gitncnt, who with Gen. Rrock, had signalized 
lliemselves in Egypt, and from their valour were 
called the invincihlcs. Before tliis they had ne- 
ver been known to give an inch of ground, and 
acknowledged, after the surrender, they had ne- 
ver fought with sucli brave men. They treated 
their prisoners with tenderness and respect, and 
allowed them as much merit as brave men could 
desire. The number of American troops killed 
amounted to not more than 60, and about 100 
were wounded. The number of prisoners, inclu- 
ding the wounded, amounted to about 700. 

But the victorious enemy, though generous 
and tender to those who, by the fortune of war^ 
.had fallen into their power, imposed no restraint 
upon their Indian allies from stripping and scalp- 
ing the dying and the slain that remained upon 
the field of battle. Capt. Ogllvie himself saw 
the lifeless body of Ensign Morris stripped eveui 
of its shirt, and the skull of one who had been 
wounded, was seen cloven by a tomahawk. 

The general, in his official despatches, bears 
evidence to the bravery and good conduct of all 
engaged ; noticing, in particular, Gen. Wads- 
worth ; Cols. Van Rensselaer and Scott ; Lieut. 
Cols. Chrystie, Fen wick, Bloom, Allen, Stran- 
ahan, and Mead ; Majors Spencer, Moseley, and 
Lush ; Captain Gibson, Lieut. Smith, and En- 
sign Grosvener, 

Major General Van Rensselaer resigned the 
command of the army, on the Niagara frontier^ 



52 HISTORY OT THE WAE. 

1® Brigadier General Smyth? on the 14th Oe^ 
tober. 

On the 10th NoveiKl>cr, General Smyth pub- 
lished a proclamation from his camp near Bdf- 
faJoe. As this document became the subject of 
much comment, it is given here in full. It was 
in the following words : 

TO THE MEN OF NEW-YORK* 

For many years you have seen your country op- 
pressed with numerous wrongs. Your government^ 
although above all others, devoted to peace, have 
been forced to draw the sword, and rely for redress 
of injuries on the valour of the American people. 

That valour has been conspicuous. But the na- 
tion has been unfortunate in the selection of some 
of those who directed it. One army has been dis- 
gracefully surrendered and lost. Another has been 
sacrificed by a precipitate attempt to pass it over at 
the strongest point of the enemy's lines, with mos| 
incompetent means. The cause of these miscar- 
riages is apparent. The commanders were popular , 
men, " destitute alike of theory and experience" in 
the art of war. 

In a few days, the troops under my command, will 
plant the American standard in Canada. They are 
men accustomed to obedience, silence, and steadi- 
ness. They will conquer, or they will die. 

Will you stand with your arms folded, and look 
on this interesting struggle ? are you not related 
to the men who fought at Benningtou and Saratoga I 
Has the race degeneraed ? Or have you, under the 
baneful influence of contending factions, forgot your 
country ? Must J turn from you, and ask men of 
the six- nations to support the government of the 
United States ? Shall I imitate the officers of the 
British king, and suffer our ungathered laurels to 
be tarnished by ruthless deeds ? Shame, where is 
thy blush ? No. Where I command, the vanquish- 
ed and the peaceful man, the child, the maid, and 



histohy of tue war. 53 

the matron, shall be secure from wrong. If we con- 
quer, we will " conquer but to save.'* 
Men of McTJ- York ! 

The present is the hour of renown. Have you not 
a wish for fame ? Would you not choose in future 
times to be named as one of those^ who, imitating the 
heroes whom Montgomery led, have, in spite of the 
scRsons, visited the tomb of the chief, and conquered 
the country where he lies ? Yes. You desire your 
share of fame. Then seize the present moment. If 
you do not, you will regret it; and say, " the valiant: 
have bled in vain ; the friends of my country fell— - 
and I was not there.'* 

Advance then to our aid. I will wait for you a 
fev/ days. 1 cannot give you the day of my de- 
parture. But come on. Come in companies, half 
companies, pairs, or singly. I will organize you for 
a short tour. Ride to this place, if the distance is. 
far, and send back your horses. But remember, that 
every man who accompanies us, places himself un-- 
der my command, and shall submit to the salutarjf 
restraints of discipline. 

ALEX. SMYTH, 
Brig. GeneraL 

Caiyifh near Bnffaloe^ J^Tov. 10, 1812. 

This proclamation had the effect of bringing 
to the ft'oniier a very considerable number of 
volunteers, men who lived the hardy life of farm- 
ers, were accustomed (o the woods, knew well the 
use of the rifle, and feared Indians as little as they 
did Englishmen. 

On the 17th November, Gen. Smyth issued a 
public address to his soldiers, preparatory to an 
immediatel^> intended entrance into tlie enemy's 
territory. The sentiments contained in this ad- 
dress are noble, humane, atnl soldierly. From 
such a general and such an army, the public ex- 
pected a very successful campaign* 



5'i HISTORY 0¥ THE WAR, 

On llie morning of the 21st November, 1812, it 
lieavy cannonade was opened upon the gari-isors 
of Fart Niagara, from ail the batteries in the 
neighbourhood of Fort George, consisting of five 
detached batteries, two mounting 24 pounders^^ 
one mounting a 9, and two mortar batteries. I'lie 
firing continued thirteen hours: some buihUngs 
ivere set on fire by the hot shot from the enemy? 
but extinguished without doing material injury. 

The garrison at Niagara, in return, opened a 
tremendous and well directed fire with hot shot. 
The town of Newark was several times in flames^ 
as also the centre building in Fort George, Capt, 
M'Keon commanded a 12 pounder in the S. E» 
block-house, and distinguished himself by his u- 
sual gallantry and skill. Capt. Jacks, of the 7tli 
regiment militia-artillery, commanded a 6 pound- 
er on the N. block-house, and together with a 
part of his own company, though placed in u s\i- 
xiation most exposed to the fire of the enemy, 
maintained their position like veterans. Lieut. 
Rees of the r.rtiilc;j"y, had command of an 18 
pounder on the S. E. battery; until 10 o'clock, 
when he received a wound, which compelled him 
10 resign the command to Capt. Leonard, of the 
artillery. Lieut. Wendell, of the Sd artillery? com- 
manded an IS and a 4 pounder on the W. battery. 
Dr.Hooper, of the militia,commanded a 6 pound- 
er on the mess-house; Lieuts. Ganesvoort am! 
ISarris had the command of the salt-battery at 
Youngstown, mounting ane 1 8 and a 4 pounder. 
These several posts were maintained Avith reso- 
lution, judgment, and great effect. Lieut. CoL 
Gray commanded the artillery, and gave the 
most satisfactory proof of his zeal and sciencco 
M jor ArOiStead of the corps of engineers, was 
iadefatigable in extending his exertions to all 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 5& 

parts of the garrison. Lieut. Col. George Mc, 
Feely commaiuled the fort. The American loss 
consisted of 4 killed, and 7 \younded. 

The hopes which General Sm^^th had raised by 
his proclamation were not to be realized. Twice 
tlie troops embarked, and as often disembarked. 
Public opinion, hitherto on the side of General 
Sm.ytb, now began to veer. His courage as well 
as his patriotism was questioned; censure was 
followed by insult and menace. The project of 
invasion was finally abandoned. The volunteers 
were dismissed, and the army ordered into win- 
ter quarters. Thus ended the operations, for 
this season, of the army of the centre. 

Gen. Smyth justified himself on the grounds 
that he had directions not to pass over with less 
than 3000 men; that he could not prevail on. 
inorei than 1500 men to embark ; and that an at- 
iack on the enemy nnder such eircu m stances, was^ 
contrary to the opinion of a council of his officers. 
'< My orders (says the general, in reply to a 
committee from the patriotic citizens of the west- 
ern counties of New- York) were to pass into Ca- 
nada with 3000 men at once. On the first day 
of embarkation not more than ItOO men were 
embarked, of whom iOO, that ig, half of the re- 
gular infantry, were exhausted with fatigfte and 
want of rest. On the second embarkation, only 
1500 men were embarked, and these were to have 
put off immediately, and to have descended the 
river to a point where reinforcements were not 
to be expected. On both days, many of the re- 
gular troops were men in bad health who could 
not have stood one day's march ; who, although 
they were on the sick report, were turned out by 
Iheir ardent officers." 

This reply was dated Sd December. Oa the 



^6 HISTOHY OF THE WAK. 

Sth of the same month, General Peter B. Porter 
gave notii-e in the Huffaloe Gazette, that he would 
soon publish a " true account of some of the most 
prominent transactions of those days." In this 
notice General Porter ascribes the failure of the 
expedition to the cowardice of General Smyth. 

General Smyth must remain convicted, in the^ 
eyes of the world, of falsehood and cowardice, if 
he continued passive under such charges. Mo- 
dern chivalry pointed out tlie course which must 
be pursued. General Smyth sent a challenge to 
General Porter, which the latter accepted. 

The parties passed over to Grand Island, on 
the 13th December ; a shot was exchanged, in ao 
intrepid manner, but without effict, when, on the 
suggestion of General Smyth's second, a mutual 
explanation and reconciliation took' places and 
the parties sepai^ated. 

General Porter, on the following day, deliver- 
ed the promised statement of transactions to the 
editor of the Buifaloe Gazette, in which paper 
it accordingly appeared. 

The statement is plain and satisfactory; and 
divested of that asperity, which was probably in- 
tended to accompany it. 

In this statement, it is represented, that, on 
the 2fth November, there were collected in the 
neighbourhood of Niagara, 4500 effective men ; 
that the vessels collected for the purpose, were 
sufficient fm* tlie transportation of 3550 men ; 
that the number of men actuaily embarked were 
estimated to consist of* between 2000 and 2600 1 
that about iOOO more men were paraded on 
shore, seemingly ready to cross; that several . 
boats of suffi ient capacity to carry about 1000 
men were still lying unoccupied ; and that the 
enemy, estimated at about 500 men, were drawE 
up in ii line;, at about half a mile fiom the liYeFj. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 57 

As a proof of what could be effeeled, had the 
wicn been permitted to pass over, General Por- 
ter states the bravery and success with which 
a detaclinient which crossed over by direction 
of General Smyth, accomplished its mission; 
having completely routed the enemy, spiked his 
eannon, and taken several prisoners. *< Out of 
12 naval officers, who embarked in this enter- 
prize, nine of tliem, (says General Porter,) with 
more than half their men, were killed or 
wounded." 

General Smyth, in a letter to the editors of the 
National Intelligt'ncer, dated 23th January, 1813, 
refutes the statement of General Porter. 

« I affirm, (says General Smyth,) that on the 27th 
;N"ovember, there were collected in the neighbour- 
hood of Black Rock, not more than 3500 effective 
imen, non-commissioned officers, and privates, of 
every corps under my command; not more than 
1300 of those were liable to be ordered to cross the 
Niagara, according to opinions generally received. 
On the 21st, there were 1050 good troops embarked, 
and also as many irregular volunteers as occupied 
five boats, estimated at 1 50 On the morning of the 
1st December, the number of men armed with mus- 
kets, who were at the navy-yard, embarked or not 
embarked, did not exceed 2000 men." 

In this refutation, General Smyth insinuates 
that General Porter, acting as contractor to the 
army, was not prepared to supply the necessary 
rations, having on the 30th November only oh 
barrels of flour on hand, " not two pounds of 
ilour to each man." — <* The hostility of General 
Porter to myself, (says General Smyth,) grew 
out of the contract. 

While the expeditions thus progressed froni 
511-design, to its unavoidable conseqjiienee, im- 



58 . HISTORY OF THE WAR» 

successful termination, the minor expeditions did 
honour to the officers who commanded, and the 
few men who were engaged in them. Among^ 
these the following must not be omitted. 

The Brigs Adams and Caledonia, which were 
surrendered to the enemy by General Hull, at 
Detroit, having arrived and anchored under the 
British Fort Erie, on the 8th October, I8I25 
Captain Elliot, of the navy, who had arrived at 
Black Rock the same day, with a body of sailors 
from New-York, determined on an attempt to 
regain them. Having made the necessary dis- 
positions, he advanced at 1 o'clock in the morn- 
ing of the 9th October, having under his com- 
mand, 100 men in two boats, including 30 volun- 
teers from the army, with Captain Townson, and 
Lieutenant Roache, of the artillery; at 3 o'clock 
he was along side the Tassels ; in ten mi- 
nutes they were under way, and the prison- 
ers secured. An unfavourable wind obliged them 
to run down the river, by the forts, under a 
heavy fire of round, grape, and cannister shot, 
from a number of pieces of heavy ordnance and 
flying artillery ; and he was compelled to anchor 
about 40 yards from one of their batteries; the 
Caledonia being got into a safe position, a fire 
was returned from the guns of the Adams, as 
long as ammunition lasted. It being found hn- 
possible longer to withstand the fire of the ene- 
my, which would probably sink the vessel in a 
short time, he v*fas cotnpelled to cut the cable, 
and drift down the river, out of reach of the bat- 
teries, but remained still exposed to the flying 
artillery; having thus dropped astern for about 
10 minutes, and being deserted by the pilots he 
was brought up on the shore of Squaw Island. 
From this place he seat the prisoners on shor© 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 59 

with much difficulty ; and, having himself pass- 
ed from the brig to the shore, he soon discovered 
that about forty soldiers had crossed in a boat, 
from the British side, and boarded the biig; but 
they were soon compelled to abandon her, with 
the loss of nearly all their men. During the 
whole of the morning, both sides of t lie river 
kept up alternately a continual fire on the brig, 
and so much injured her, that it was impossible 
to have floated her — she was of course destroy- 
ed. 

A patrole was stationed on the shore, to co- 
operate in case of emergency ; it was command- 
ed by Lieut, Col. Scott, of the artillery, having 
under him Major Mullauy, of the infantry, as a 
volunteer, Major Cuyier, Aid to General Hall, 
and J. Bankhead, Brigade Major to General 
Smyth's brigade. As Majors MuUany and Cuy- 
ier were riding close together, the former re- 
ceived an order from Col. Scott to proceed to 
the navy-yard, to direct two boats to be manned, 
and sent to the assistance of the captured vessels ; 
he had but just sy)rang ahead, in execution of this 
order, when a round shot from the enemy, which 
passed through the fore-sail of the Adams, 
struck, and instantly kisled Major Cuyier, and 
thus deprived the service of a brave and useful 
officer. 

Major Young, of the Troy Militia, command- 
ant of a detaeJiment stationed at French Mills, 
on the St. Regis river, having received infoi'ma- 
tion that a party of the enensy had arrived at 
the village of St. Regis, and that more were 
shortly expected, formed a resolution to take 
them out before they were reinforced. For this 
purpose he niar.'hed a det: chnient at 11 o'clock, 
ton the night of the 21st October^ ciossed the 



€0 HISTORY or THE WAR, 

river, at Gray's Mills, about 3, and at 5 in ihp 
morning arrived within half a mile of the village, 
unexpected by the enemy. Here the major made 
sueh a judicious disposition of his men that tlie 
enemy were entirely surrounded, and after a few 
discharges, surrendered themselves prisoners, 
with tlie loss of b killed. The result of this af- 
fair was, the capture of 40 prisoners, with their 
arms, equipments, &c. one stand of colours, and 
two batteaux, without a man of our party being 
hurt. They got safe back to camp at 11 o'clock 
in the morning. The prisoners were sent off to 
Plattsburgh. Major Young has had the honour 
of taking the first standard from the enemy in 
the present war. 

The movements of the enemy, during these 
times, were not to them equally honourable or 
important. 

The village of Ogdensburg, on the St. Law- 
rence, was bombarded on the 2d Oct. 1812, for 
3 hours, from Prescott, opposite ; between 20 and 
30 twelve and nine pound shot were picked up in 
the gardens and streets, but no damage was done« 
The fii'ing was brought on by the attempt of a 
party of Americans to take some Canadian boats, 
"but they did not succeed. The garrison at Og- 
densburg consists of 500 men, under General 
Brown, from Jefterson county. 

The Sunday following, the British prepared 
40 boats, with from 10 to 16 armed men in each, 
and six pieces of artillery, with which they ad- 
vanced to storm the town. When arrived with- 
in a short distance, our troops opened a warm 
iire upon them, and the contest continued about 
two hours, when the British, having two of their 
boats so knocked to pieces, as to oblige them to 
he abandoned, and one taken, on boaid of which 



HISTOKT OF THE WAR, 6i 

Were 6 men, fled prei-ipitately to I'rcscott. IVo 
damage >vas sustained on our side. 

FYom the judicious arrangements made by 
Col. Benedict, Capt. Forsytli, Capt. Griffin, Ma- 
jor Dimoek, Adjt. HoteJikiss, Capt. Hubbard, 
Capt. Benedict, Capt. M'Nif, and others of the 
troops under their command, as directed by 
Gen. Brown, had the eneiny attempted a landing 
an immense slaugliter must have ensued, No 
person couhl have been more attentive than Gen. 
Brown, thi'ouj^h the vvliole action. Praise is al- 
so due to his lieid, stafiT, and commissioned of- 
fice I's. 

By this action the British are taught, that 
-iOO Yankees will not decline a combat, when at- 
tacked by 1000 of their troops. Cols. Leth- 
bridge and Breckcnridge, led the British in per- 
son. 

On the 3d October, the British brig Royal 
George, went into the Genessee river, a -d cut 
«nt the schooner Lady Murray, and a revenue 
cutter. There was no force then there that 
couhl resist tlie enemy. 

The national pride had been already highly 
gratified bv success o'l tiie ocean; the public 
eye was anxiously directed to that element, m 
expectation of further glory. The public hope 
was not to be disappointed. 

\t day light on the 18th Oct. 1812, about the 
lat. of 37 di'g. north, and Ion. 65 dcg. west. Cap- 
tain Jacob Jones, coMimanding the United 
States' sloop of war Wasp, of t8 guns, got 
sight of a British convoy of six large armed 
niJ^rchant shins, under protecti m of the British^ 
sloop of war Frolic eomnnnded by Ca')t. Whin- 
yates, A signal was made by the Frolic for 
the fleet to disperse. At 30 minutes past eleven 

F 



6^ HISTOnT OF THE WAR. 

A. M. an engagement commeneed between t!i© 
two sloops, at a short dislunce, and continued 
until the vessels were so close, that the rammers 
of the Wasp were, while loading the last broad- 
eide, shoved against the side of the enemy. I'he 
Frolic was boarded on her forecastle, and im- 
mediately surrendered. The manner in which 
this engagement was maintained, was higlily 
honourable to the Americans. The Frolic 
mounted 22 guns ; sixteen of them 32 pound 
carronades. and four 12 pounders on the main 
deck, and two 12 pounders, carronades, on the 
top-gallant forecastle, making her superior in 
force to the Wasp, by four 12 pounders. On 
board the Wasp, there were five killed, and five 
■wounded. The exact loss of the enemy could 
not be ascertained, as many of the dead lay buri- 
ed under the masts and spars that had fallen up- 
on the deck, which two hours exertion had not 
sufficiently removed. Lieut. Eiddle, who had 
chaige of the Frolic, states, from what he saw, 
and by ini'ormation from the officers, the number 
of killed must have been thirty ; that of the 
wounded, about forty or fifty. 

The Wasp suffered so much in this action, 
that both masts fell on the deck a few minutes 
after se{ arating from the Frolic ; every brace, 
and most of the rigging, bad been shot away 
durij^g the action. 

In this state, she nearly remained, when, in 
two hours after the action, the British ship 
Poictiers, of 74 guns, hove in sight ; and, soon 
after took possession of the two sloops, and or- 
dered them for Bermuda. 

The captain of the Frolic, in his official let- 
ter to Admiral Warren, states that every oiiieer 
was wounded, and the greater part of the wice 



HISTORY OF THE \VAR» ^S 

either killed or wounded ; there not being twenty 
persons resTiaining unhurt. 

Tlic followinj^ resolution of the Common 
Couneil of Ne^Y-Yo^k, will sliow the high light 
in which they held Capt. Jones and his erew. 

it Resolved, That an elct-ant sword be presented to 
Captain Jones, late of the United States' sloop of 
war Wasp, and also the freedom of this city, as a 
testimony of the high opinion this Corporation en- 
tertain of h=s gallant conduct, in capturmg the Brit- 
ish sloop of war Frolic ; and Ihat the thanks of the 
Common Council be presented to his brave ofiicers 
and crew.*' 

The United States' frigate United States^ / 
Captain Stephen Decatur, being on a eruise, fell ^ 
in, on the ^25th October, 1812, with his Britan- 
nic Majesty's frigate Macedonian, Captam J. 
S. Carden, in lat. 29, N. Ion. 29, 30, W. and, after 
an action of an hour and a half, (17 minutes of 
which was in close action,) the British tngate 
^vas captured. The Macedonian was of ihe 
laraiest class of British frigates, two years old, 
but four months out of dock, and mounting ^9 
-uns, (the odd one shifting.) This engagement 
Save another indisputable proof of the superi-. 

ority of American discipline and gunnery. ^ 

The loss on both sides was as follows ; 
On board the United States, 2 seamen, 2 ma- 
rines, 1 boy— Total killed, 5. 

Wounded, 1 lieutenant, 1 carpenter, i seameu, 
1 marine— Total wounded, 7 ; of whom, Lieut. 
Funk, and John Archibald, died of their wounds. 
On board (he Macedonian, there were 36 kil- 
led, and 08 wounded; 36 of whom severely. 

By the muster roll of the IMucedonian. it ap- 
peared that there were seven impressed Amc- 



64 illSTORY OP THE 'W'ARi 

licans on beard, during the aclion, two of wliom 
ivcre kiJied. 

Tbe United States and Macedonian ariived 
flffMoutaiig Point, on the ith Deccniber; but 
ivere prevented from reaebing Aew-York before 
ibc first day of the new }ear, 1813. 

On the arrival of Captain Hull at New- York, 
he was presen(ed by Hie corporation of the eity, 
with the freedom of the cify, in a gold box. As 
s<'on as Captain Hull entered the eoiineil cbam- 
ber, conducted by alderojen Fish and Mesier, 
and General Morton, be was addressed by his 
Loiiour De ^Vitt Clinton, mayor of the city, in 
an appropriate speech. Captain Hull, with all 
ibiit modesty so frequently allied to virtuous 
bravery, made a short, hut very becoming reply. 
The Captain then took the freeman's oath, and 
retired, amidst an immense crowd, who filled the 
air with reiterated huzzas. On the following 
day, a splendid naval dinner was given by the 
corporation to Captain Hull, Com. Decatur, 
and Captain Jones, in testimony of the high 
sense entertained of the nterits of these gentle- 
men. Nothing was omitted to render this din- 
ner truly descriptive of the occasion, and the 
feelings of tlie citizens. 

On the 9th of January another dinner was giv- 
en by the corporation, to the crew of the United 
States. The seamen and marines, having form- 
ed in procession, proceeded from the place of 
landing to the City Hotel, amidst the plaudits of 
thousands of citizens. On the arrival of the 
sailors, and they Ijeing seated, they were address- 
ed by Mr. Vanderbilt, witii bis usual energy and 
perspicuity. The boatswain made a short reply, 
expressive of the gratitude of his shipmates, and 
tiieir wish foi* a further opportunity to prove thejr 



HISTOHY OF THE WAR. 65 

devotedness to theii" country. At 6 o'clock, the 
procession was re-lbrmed, when they proceeded 
to the Theatre, at the express wish and invita- 
tion ol* the managers, who reserved the pit ex- 
clusively lor their accommodation. The Iiarmo- 
-ny of the day >vas not interrupted by a singl© 
irregularity. 

The enemy had some consolation, (if consola- 
tion it can he called,) by the capture, in Novem- 
ber, of the United States' brig of war Vixen, of 
li guns, by his majesty's frigate Southampton, 
of 32 guns. 

Both vessels were wrecked shortly afterwards, 
on the desert Island of Conception ; at whicU 
time most of the crew of the Southampton, throw- 
ing off the controul of their officers, refused to 
do duty. 

On (his occasion, the intrepid exertions of our 
tars, aided by their officers, were chiefly instru- 
mental in saving the ujavcable property on boaid 
the frigate. So sensible was Sir James Yeo of 
the generous conduct of the American sailors, 
that he drew them up on the island, and publicly 
thanked them in the warmest terms^ 

Although a patriotic support of^e war was 
the distinguishing feature of the public senti- 
ment, yet there was a strange apathy too preva- 
lent, which tended not a littfe to render its early 
stage unpropitious to the country. Something 
was necessary to awaken the unroused loyalty 
of the people. Victory might have that eftect f 
perhaps defeat was a more powerful agent. The 
defeat and surrender of Gen. Hull, so much dis- 
appointed the expectations excited by the gene- 
ral's proclamation, that it is impossible to depict 
the fii St effect. The mortilieation of disappoint- 
ment; added to the serious loss of a fiae aii«)> 



ti6 HIS 1 Oil F OF THE WAE. 

threw a temporary gloom over tlie citizens.— 
This sooD gave way to resentment, and a deter- 
mlnation to wipe off the •• tbul stain." The spirit 
of tiro nation rose, and that of '76 seemed to re- 
turn. This sentiment, which pervaded a great 
proportion of the nation, was njost powerful in 
the western country. All felt the necessity of 
immediate action ; Kentucky and Ohio may he 
said to have broken loose ; an army was ready, 
as if hy magic, piepaied to avenge the late dis- 
grace. A leader was wanting — all eyes looked, 
with a common impulse, towards the hero cf 
Tippacanoe; the united voice of the people call- 
i-d on the governor to dispense with all formali* 
lies; and William Henry Harrjsojv was ap- 
pointed a major general, with directions to take 
command of the north western army. This ap- 
pointment was confirmed by the President of the 
United States. 

The exposed situation of the north western 
fiontier, after the surrender of Hull, required 
the utmost exertions for its protection. It was 
not possible entirely to avert the impending dan- 
ger. 

The Indians had already commenced their sa- 
vage warfare, by an attack on Fort Dearborn, 
and the massacre of its garrison. Fort Dearborn 
(Chicago) was but a weak garrisoji, consisting of 
about 50 men, there were also in it a few wo- 
men and children. A large body of Indians ha- 
ving menaced the fort, it was agreed in a coun- 
cil, which was held with the faithless tribes, that 
the garrison should be spared on condition of 
surrendering the place without resistance. I'bey 
inarched out on the l^th Sept. and, wken, about 
a mile from the fort, were fired upon, and mur- 
dered, with tlie exception of about iO or j^^ 
ivho escaped^ 



HISTORY OF THE VVAK. 67 

Fort Bel view (Madison) on the Mississippi, 
was attai ked on the 4th September, by the In- 
dians, with all t!ie desperation that a want of 
real courage eonhl inspire; the attack was re- 
newed daily until tlie 8th, when the Indians, af- 
ter suff( ring vei'y severelv, withdrew, leaving the 
brave garrison sate. One soldier, who was out 
of tlie fort when tlie attack commenced, was 
massacred : no lives were lost in the fort ; and 
only one man wounded. 

About 11 o'cloj-k in the evening of the 4tli 
September, Fort Harrison, in the Indiana Terri- 
tory, was attacked by a vast number of Indians. 
The garrison was weak, and the most of them, 
incluciing its intrepid commander, Capt. Z.Tay- 
lor, either sick or convalescent. The attack, 
"was continued, in a most furious manner, until 
about sun-rise the following morning, when the 
savages retired, driving away or shooting all the 
cattle they could find. 

Several expeditions were formed against the 
Indians, for the protection of the inhabitants, 
and keeping open the necessary communicati.^ns. 
Colonel Russell, with a small detachn»ent of the 
United States' rangers, proceeded to the head 
of the Peori Lake, where he destroyed the cele- 
brated Pimertain's town. General Hopkins, with 
about 1200 troops, left Fort Harrison on the 11th 
December, and succeeded in destroying several 
villages along the Wabash ; a party of 64 that 
left the camp, in search of a man who was mis- 
sing, fell in with a large force of horse and foot 
Indians: this party suffered a defeat, with a loss 
of 16, making, with the missing man, 17. Gen. 
Tupper defeatvd a numerous body of British and 
Indians, near the Rapids of the Miami : the dif- 
ficulty of crossing the river; and want of prov^ 



&S HISTORY OF THE WAR* 

sions, obliged the expedition to return, having 
lost 4 killed; and one heing wounded. Colonel 
Campbell, with 600 men, attacked one of the 
Massissinewa towns, on the 17th and 18th Dec. 
and defeated the Indians, after a most desperate 
conflict : the American loss was 8 killed, and 23 
wounded ; (he Indian town was burned. Colonel 
John B. Campbell, on the 17th Nov. attacked 
the savages at a town on the Massissinewa, 
wliich he burned, as well as tbree other towns 
further down the river, killing several, and tak- 
ing 37 prisoners: on the morning of the 11th 
Dec. his camp was attacked by about 300 In- 
dians, Avho were defeated, after an engagement 
of about three quarters of an hour. The loss of 
the Americans in these affairs, was 9 killed, and 
about 35 or 40 wounded ; about 40 of the In- 
dians were killed. The Indians also suifered a 
defeat from Col. Williams, commanding the Ten- 
nessee troops. 

These actions were well calculated to inspire 
the Indians with a proper respect for the Ame- 
ricans; and, if followed up with continued suc- 
cess, would tend to estrange the savage enemy 
from his British ally ; but a sad reverse soon oc- 
eurred. 

A detachment, nnder the command of Gen» 
"Winchester, being attacked on the 22d Jan. 1813, 
at Frenchtown, on the river Raisin, by a greatly 
superior force of Indians and British, aided by 
several pieces of artillery, suftered a defeat. The 
Americans lost no honour on this occasion ; they 
defended themselves, and fought with despera- 
tion, even beyond the time when prudence and 
honour would have sanctioned a surrender. Gen. 
Winchester, being himself a prisoner, agreed to 
a surrender of the troops under his comiuaud; ojs 



HISTORY OF THE WAR: (Of 

eondilion that they should he protected against 
the savages, and allowed to retain their private 
property and side arms. Thirty-five officers, and 
490 non commissioned officers and privates were 
made prisoners^ the number of killed was con- 
siderable. 

The prisoners who were in health were march- 
ed to Maiden ; the wounded were, contrary to the 
terms of capitulation, left at the m^rey of the 
Indians. On the morning of the 23d, such of 
the wounded as were unable to travel, were to- 
mahawked and scalped. 

The following is a copy "of the report of a com- 
mittee of Congress, on this subject : 

" The massacre of the 23d January, after the capi- 
tulation, was perpetrated without any exertion on 
their part to prevent it ; indeed, it is apparent, from 
all the circumstances, that if the British officers aid 
not connive ^t their destruction, they were criminally 
indifferent ab-ut the fate of the wounded prisoners. 
But what marks more strongly the' dej^radation of 
the character of the British sohiiers, is the refusal of 
the IdSt offices of humanity to the bodies of the dead. 
The bodies of our countrymen were exposed to every 
indignity, and became food for brutes, in the sight of 
men who affect a sacred regat-d to the dictates of 
honour and religion — Low indeed is the character 
of that army, which is reduced tor the confession, 
that their savage auxiliaries will not permit them to 
perform the rites of sepulture to the slain. 'I'he 
committee have not been able to discover even the 
expmssion of detestation, which such conduct must 
inspire, from the military or civil authority on the 
Canadian frontier, unless such detestation is to be 
presumed from the choice of an Indian trophy, as an 
ornament for the Legislative Hall of Upper Canada." 

At a luteting of the officers who survived the 
fcattie of Frenchtown, held at Eric, (Pa.) the. 



70 HISTORY OF THE WARr 

20th Feb. 1813, the following statement and r©* 
soUitions were agreed to. 

«' Whereas it is deemed necessary, that our fellow- 
citizens should be informed of the late perfidious 
and brutal acts of the British government, performed 
by their officers at the battle of Frenchtown. 

Resolved^ That the following statement of the 
conduct of the British officers, be published to our 
countrymen : 

That when General Winchester was taken pri- 
soner, on the 22d January, 1813, and brought before 
Colonel Proctor, the British commander, he directed 
the commanding officer of the Americans (Major 
Madison) to surrender. Major Madison refused so 
to do, unless those who surrendered should be free 
from savage massacre ; this was agreed to ; and the 
British officers pledged themselves to have a suffi- 
cient force with the wounded, to protect them, and 
that they should be conveyed to Maiden the next 
morning. They likewise promised to return to the 
officers their arres at Maiden. 

Capt. N. G. F. Hart, inspector to the north-west- 
ern army, being among the wounded, it was pro- 
posed by his friends, that they should carry hini 
with them — this they were prevented from doing, by 
Capt Elliot, a British officer, and an old acquaintance 
of Captain Hart's, wtio promised Capt. H. his special 
protection — to convey him in his own sleigh to Mai- 
den that evening, and informing him that he should 
be welcome to remain at his house there, until he 
should recover. 

These were the promises of the British — Let our 
countrymen and the world see how they were fulfilled. 

At the break of day next morning, the savages 
were suffered to commit every defii edaiion upon our 
toouiided, ivhich they pleased. An indiscriminate 
slaughter took place of all who were unable to walk — 
many were tomahawked^ and many were burned alivS 
in the houses, Amo ig the unfortunate thus mur- 
dered, it is with regret and sorrow we have to name 
i^aptains Hart and Hickman. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, ^1 

The arms of the officers, as promised, were never 
returned. Kveiy species of private property re- 
mainintj in the tents, belonging to both officers and 
soldiers, were plundered by the savages. 

Resolved^ That in consider, tion of the high re- 
spect we hold to the memories of both officers and 
-soldiers, who were thus cruelly murdered, by per- 
mission of the British commander Proctor, and his 
subalterns, and those who gloriously fell in ihe^eid, 
defending- the only free government on earthy that 
each of us wear black crape on our hats, and left 
arm, for the spa-e of ninety days. 

Resolved^ That a similar procedure, testifying 
their respect for those who were murdered and fell 
on that day, be recommended to our brother officers 
and soldiers, who survived it. 

SAMUEL WILLIAMS, President. 
John Beckley, becre.ary." 

The little pros^ress bifherto made by land, a- 
gainst the eneniVf bad determined the con,i>re^s 
and tbe general government on adopting a more 
efficient plan of warfare. Several new appoint- 
ments of officers were made; and Commodove 
Cbauncey was appointed to llie command of the 
lake navy. 

Tlie commodore arrived at Sackett's harbour 
in October, 1812. His great exertions enabled 
liim to prepare a fleet in less than a month, with 
^vbich he resolved to try his fortune on the lake, 
although tbe British fleet was superior in nuntber 
of vessels, guns, and men. 

The commodore sailed from Sackett's harbour 
on Lake Ontario. On the 8th Nov. fell in with 
and chased the Royal George, until he lost sight 
of her in the night : on tbe f dlowing day renew- 
ed the chase, and followed lier into Kingston bar- 
|j©ur, where he engaged her and the batteries, for 



72 HISTOKY OF THE WAR. 

nearly two Lours — at sun down he hauled off, 
being obliged, by badness of the weather, to re- 
turn to Sackett's Harbour. 

if^he Constitution frigate, having undergone 
every necessary repair, proceeded from Boston 
on a second cruise, in October. On tlie U9lh 
December, 1812, in south lat. 13. 6. and west Ion. 
38, ten leagues disthut from the coast of Brazils, 
fell in with, and captured his Britannic Majesty's 
frigate Java, 'M'tw an action of 1 hour and b5 
jni iutes. 'I'lie .Java carried 49 guns. .: nd upwards 
of 400 men, and was commanded b^ Captain H, 
Lam!)ert, a brave and gallant officer. The Java 
'was s?) pert>ct awr; ck, that it seemed extremely 
do'jb'ful Mhether she could be brought to the 
Uniu't' States; she was therefore burned in two 
days aftes* beis»g captured. 

The .Java I/ad been lately out of dock, having 
undergone a thorough repair in order to car y 
out Lieut. Gen. His'op. who was going as com- 
mander in chief to Boiifhay Besides her full 
complement of nsen, the Java had uiswards of 
100 supernumerariVs, going to Briti^li ships of 
war in the East-Indies ; also several officers, pas- 
sengers, going out on pron o<ion. 'I'he number 
of men was considerably more than that of the 
Constitution. By her cjuarter-bill, she had one 
man more stationed at each gnn than the Constitu- 
tion had. The loss on Ix^a? d the Constitution was 
9 killed, and 25 wou»)d< d. The enen?\ had 60 
IdHcd. and 101 wounded ; but by a letter wriinn 
on board the Constitutiim. by one of the officers 
of the Java, and accident vdl5 found, it was evi- 
dent that the enem;^'^ w(und»'d must have 1m en 
considerably gieater ; the hotter states e»(* kilUd, 
and 170 wounded. This additional c^.nn bev of 
wounded men have probably died before they 



HISTORY OF TUB WAR. 75 

c-ould be removed. Amonj; the woiimled on board 
the Constitution, was Caj)taiii Bainbridge, tlie 
connnafider : captain Liinibei't, of the Java, was 
wounded mortally. 

General Ilislop was immediately paroled with 
the officers of his staff ; and, at the request of 
Genera! Hislo'p, in a letter, dated St. Salvador, 
Jan. S, 1813, all the oiHeers of the Java were in 
like manner paroled — Commodore Bainbridi^e re- 
stored ail the private property of Gen. tlislop, 
including articles of plate, to a large amount. 

The corporation of the city of New- York pre- 
sented Commodore Baiobridge, with the free- 
dom of the city, on the 8th D^e. 1813. 

The following resolution was pass<d by the 
Senate of Massachusetts, the I9{h February: 

« Resolved^ Tha^ the thanks of this Senate be giv- 
en to Commodore William Bainbridije, and the offi- 
cers and crew of the frigate Constitution, under his 
command, for their brilliant achievement in capturing 
and destroying his Britannic Majesty's frigate Java; 
and that the commodore be requested to communi- 
cate the same to his officers and crew wirh an assur- 
ance from this branch of the legislaiure, that they 
will hold in grateful remembrance, those who fell in 
Hghting for the essential and violated rights of their 
country." 

Although it is a fact established, beyond the 
power of contradiction, that every possible indul- 
gence and attention were exercised toward tho 
crew of the Java, yet were some of her officers 
so ungrateful as to charge the Americans with 
having ill used the vanquished in a variety of 
ways. In reply to a publication in the British 
Naval Chronicle, for May, 1814, by Thomas Cook 
Jones, surgeon of the Java, and another publica« 
tion ia the same paper, for June? by one of ih^ 

G 



74 HISTORY or THE WAK. 

lieutenants of the Java, elmrging tlie Americans 
with cruelty, &c. Mi*. Ames A. Evans, surgeon 
of the frigate Constitution, published in the Bos- 
ton Chronicle, a complete refutation of the British 
slander, concluding with the following words : 

" I challenge the British to produce a solitary in- 
stance, where they- have given a faithful and candid 
relation of the result of their actions with us since tlie 
dvClaraSion of the present war. They have, of late, 
established for themselves a kind of national charac- 
ter, that^ 1 trust, none will envy them th. possession 
of; they have proved, that although they may not 
always be able to conquer in battle, they can preva- 
ricate, defame or niibtake, with as much ease as any 
nation on earth." 

Commodore Rodgers sailed from Boston the 
'Sth Out. 1812, on his second cfuise, having un- 
der his command the frigate President, the Unit- 
ed States, Captain Decatur ; Congress, Captain 
Smith ; and brig Argus, Captain Sinclaii\ TliG 
President and Congress arrived at Boston in De- 
cpuiber. During tiieir cruise, they captured the 
Briiish packet Swallow, with 168,000 dollars on 
board, and British ship Argo, laden with oil 
and whalebone, both of which arrived some time 
before. I'hey saw no enemy's ciuizers hut the 
jS^rnplie and Galatea, which they ehased, but 
lost sight of in the night. 1 he squadron have 
been as fai* east as long. 22, and to the soutli as 
far as lat. 17 N. From the 1st to the 30th Nov. 
they nevei* saw a sail. On the 22d October, ]y- 
ing to in a gale, the President sprung her nsain- 
mast badly, and on the 21st Dec. wliile lying to 
in the GuJph Stream, shipped a heavy sea, whieli 
swept the starboai'd gangway, staited the boats, 
killed 2 men, and v\ouiided 7. The President 
brought in bO prisoners. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 75 

The specie was landed from ihe President, at 
the navy-yard in Charlcstown, and being placed 
in six waggons, each canning tlie naliona! co- 
lours, was thus carried to tlie stale bank in Bos- 
ton, where it was safely deposited, amidst the 
iinzzas of thousands of spectators. 

Tiio (jommodore parted company with the 
United Slates and Arj^us (Sie lith Uetober. 

Tite U. S. brig Viper, Cajit Henley, of 12 
guns, was capturJMl on the 17(h JanJiiiry, 1S13> 
in lat. -Z9, N. 8.^30, W. by his Britannic majes- 
ty's frigate Narc issus, of 32 guns, after a chase 
of iS hiyurs. — .\o lighting. 

Commodore Bainbridgc left the IT. S. sloop 
of war flornet, (apt. James Lawrence, oft* the 
harljour of Hi. Salvador, where she remained 
from the 6th, mitil the 2ith January, blockad- 
ing the Bonne Citoyenne, and another armed 
VfsseL Being at length driven from her sta- 
tion by the Montague, of 74 guns, which was 
sent to reUcTC the Bonne Citoyenne. Captain 
Lawrence proceeded otF Oemarat a river, where, 
on the '24th February, 1813, he fell in with and 
engaged his liritannic njajesty's brig of Avar 
Peaiiick : the action lasted but 13 minutes, iii 
which short space of tinje, the Peacock was 
liteially cut to pieces ; an eiisign, union down, 
was hung from the fore- rigging, as a signal at 
once ofdistress and surrender. Lieut. Shubii(k, 
wh ) was sent on board her, return^^d with a re- 
port that she was fast sinking, having then six 
feet of water in her hold. The boats of the 
Hornet were immediately despatched, and every 
possible exertion made to keep her afloat until 
the prisoners could be remov(«d, by pumping aj^d 
huiling. without eflect, as she sunk in five and a 
half fathoais water, carrying; down nine ©f Lcr 



.76 HISTOST ©F THE WAR. 

«rew, and three of the crew of the Ilornef, iisa 
John Hart. Joseph Williams, and Hannibal 
Boyd. Several of the Hornet's crew narrowly 
escaped a similar faie, being saved hy jumping 
into a boat that was l^ing on the booms, as she^ 
went down. 

llie Peacock was one of the finest vessels or 
licr class in the British navy ; she mounted 16 
twenty-four pound carronades, two long nines,, 
one twelve pound carronade on her top-gallant 
forecastle, as a shifting gun, and one four or sis 
pounder, and two swivels mounted aft; hei* 
trew consisted, at the time of the action, of one 
liiindred and thirty men. 

The loss on board the Peacock could not hi^ 
ascertained by Capt. Lawrence, but must have 
been considerable. Capt. Peake, her command- 
er, and four, men were found dead on board, 
and 33 wounded, most of them severely, three 
of which died of their wounds, after being re- 
moved. The total of killed, wounded and drown* 
ed, was certainly 42, and probably more. 

The Esp€^ij>le, a British brig, mounting 10 
thirty-two pound carronades, and 2 long nine's 
lay about 6 miles in shore, and within sight of 
the action : she declined coming in aid of hey 
t'onsort, or to approach the victorious ship al- 
though Capt. Lawrence cleared his ship„ in ex- 
pectation of a second engagement. 

Captain Lawrence stated, that their w^ere 
two impressed American seamen on board the 
Jate British sloop of war Peacock, one a native 
Df the state of New-York, and the other a na- 
tive of Norfolk. One of them was pressed two 
years and a half, and the other about 1 8 months 
previnus, neither of them entered, ^and both were 
co'upr'lled to light during the engagement with 
the Hornet. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 77 

Before (lie engai^ement commenced, the above 
mentioned Aniericr.n seamen left their station, 
went to the Captain of (he Peacock, and asked 
his permission to go beh)W, with the crew of the 
bi'i.j; Hunter, of Portland, as they eouhl not figiit 
agtinst their eoun(ry. This request was per- 
emptorily refused by Capt. Peakc, and the two 
Americans were forced to their station, and com- 
pelled to iiglit. 

Capt. Lawrence further stated, that another 
impressed American was reported to liave been 
on board the Peacock, and that he was killed 
during (iie actioa. 

The reader shouhl not be carried away with 
the belief, tliat the commander of the Espeigle 
was a coward. That may possibly have been 
the case, but it is far from beiig probable. — • 
Those who wish to allow to American n.val he- 
roes their well earned honours, will be readier to 
ascribe the modesty of the Englishmen to the 
effect of American prowess, than to British 
cowardice. Prudence is a virtue which often 
requires courage to exercise. Had the coiR- 
iiiduder of the Espeigle encountered the victo- 
rious American he would be defeated. He pro- 
b.ibly believed so; and, believing it, he actei! 
with prudence. 

I'he following comment on the capture of the 
Peacock, is extracted from the London Gibe. 

" The late captain of the Swallow packet, capured 
by the Americans, landed on Monday at Falmouth, 
from on board the Childei s sloop of war. He con- 
firms the loss of the Peacock, which struck to tlie 
Hornet, after a severe and suni^uinary confli-t, and 
went down while the enemy were taking out her 
crew. Sixteen English and four Americans went 
down in her. The force of the two vessels y^^s- 



78 " HISTOKY OF THE WAlt, 

dearly equal. The circumstances, therefore, whidi 
have enabled Americans t!)us to add another laurel to 
]ier brow, it is most important to know, and we trust 
they will be fully inquired into. In the cases of 
captun- by iarge American frigates, the mercenary 
writers for the Admiralty havo- assured their read- 
ers that they have, by some charm, been able to prac- 
tice a decefitio visus upon our navy ; that although 
apparently frigates, they are in fact great ships of 
the line ; but as no dij>parity of size is supposed ta 
havf", existed in this disaster, Mr. C'rr ckel^'s scribea 
■will prol)ably give out, that the crew of the Hornet 
were not of the ordinary race of sailors, but that ev- 
ery one was a Hercules in strength, and an Archir 
medes in science." 

The fbl!(nvi':g appeared in a Halifax paper. 

" Tn our extracts from American papers, our read- 
ers will find an account of the capture of the Pea- 
cock The good foiiunc of the Americans has not 
forsaken them ; on the contrary, it is more conspi- 
cut>us in this than in their previous actions. Evert/ 
one cor.vf'-sanr with gunnery must knoWf that had a 
-aessel been moor>- -q for the sole purpose of making- 
an EXPFRiM! NT, it is not at all likely she ivould have 
been sunk in so short a time. 

Pr^'vioiis 10 the action with the Peacock, 
€apt. Li.v\i'en*'e enptiired, on the 4th Feb the 
t ! jS'lish brisj; ilv solution, ot 10 ,^iins, from Kio 
Ji neif. , ';ounc* to Maran! am, which he burned, 
after (akifij^ Uvm. hei about 23.0()0L ster ing, in 
spoeie. On musterinii^ the ir-Jirninir after the 
action, there ^w^ f<-iird on bmrd the Hornet 
%17 souls, ill.' Iii(^inj2c tht- crew of the Anieri an 
^)rig Hunter, of Po* tl^icl. taken a few dijys be- 
fore bj the Peacoi k. T? is additional proof of 
t??e superiority of American tactics has no^ 
\^'\w exceeded by any former instance. It w\2cf 
Indcttd b« said t© Uaye decided the relative mer^- 



HISTORY or THE WAR. 7^ 

its of American and British seamen, tlie supe- 
riority claimed by the British is no longer main- 
tainable — the Americans rank decidedly as first 
in naval tactics. 

Capt. Lawrence, while off St. Salvador, sent 
a challenge to Capt. Greene, of the Bonne Cito- 
yenne, which the latter prudently declined ac- 
cepting. 

I'he following resolutions passed the Common 
Council of the city of New-York, on the i^9th 
March, 1813. 

« Resolved, That the freedom of the city be pre- 
sented to Captain Lawrknce, to'^ether with a piece 
of plate with appropriate devices and inscriptions, 
and that his honour the Recorder be requested to 
forward the same, with a copy of this resolution. 

<' Resolved^, That in testimony of the high sense 
which this Common Council entertain of the con- 
duct of the crew of the United States' sjoop of war 
Hornet, by the capture of his Britannic Majesty's 
sloop of war Peacock, in the unexampled short pe- 
riod of fifteen minutes, that the Common Council 
will give a public dinner to the crew of the United 
States* sloop of war Hornet.** 

I'hese nrany and splendid naval victories de- 
served not only the applause, but the gratitude 
of the nation. Congress was not insensible to 
this. A law passed that h(>dy in March, 1813, 
appropriating the sum of ^25,000, to he distri- 
buted among the officers and crew of the Con- 
stitution, for the destruction of the Guerriere; 
and a like sum of ^^3,000, for the destructio^i or 
the Java ; and the sum of ^25,000, to be distii- 
buted among the officers and crew of the Wasp^ 
for the capture of the F>oUc, 

The United States' fsigate Chesapeake, Capt, 
Evans, arrived at Boston the 10th April, isiS, 



80 HISTORY OF THE WAE. 

from a cruise of 115 days, having sailed from 
the fcame porl the 17th Deceinber, 1812. 

From Koslon the Chesapeake ran down by 
t]ie Madeiras, Canaries, and Cape de Yerds 5 
thence down on the equatoi*, between lonj^. 16 
and 25, where she eruised 6 weeks ; thence 
d>wn the eoast of South America, passing with- 
in 15 leagues of* Surrinam, (was in the same 
place the (lornet suiik the Peacuck the day af- 
ter she h^ft.) down by Barbadoes, Antigua, and 
most of the windward ^Yest-lndia islands ; thence 
on the United States, between Bertnr»da and the 
Capes of Virginia, by the Capes of Dehiware, 
Avithin 12 leagues, by New-York, within 20 
leagues, thence through the east channel to 
Boston. 

The Chesapeake captured, during her cruise, 
S British, and 1 American vessel, sailing under 
a British licence; and re-captured an Ameri- 
C'An schooner. The Chesapeake was chased by 
two ships of war, (a 74 and a frigate) off the 
"Western Islands. Off the Capes of Virginia, 
gave chase to a slooj* of war, and continued 
cfiasing for 2 days, when the sloop escaped in 
the night. Seven me5i died of a malignant fe- 
ver ; and 3 were lost by the cari-ying a«vay of 
the main-top mast, during a heavy flaw, the day 
before her arrival in port. 

General Harrison was at Fort Meigs the 20th 
April, 1813, and gave directions to prepare ta 
defend the p ace against an attack, which he ap- 
prefiended, from the movejnents of the eneujy* 
Fortifications were accordingly carried on with 
great diligence, and every means used to animate 
the men to defend the post. On the 26th and 
37th, the reconnoitering parties of the enemy 
appeared on the opposite shorc; but soon retired 



DISTORT OP THE %VAR. 81 

The Indians were sent across the river during 
the night of the 28th, and was placed so as to 
surround the garrison. The siege commenced 
ih form, on the 2'Jih» and firing was kept up dur- 
ing this and the following day, by the enemy, 
wiiose works were eonsiderahly impeded and in- 
jured hy the firing from the* fort. By the 1st of 
May, the works of the fort were so far complet- 
ed, as to enahle the hesieged to give the enemy a 
very warm reception, silencing one of their guns 
several times. During the 'id and 3d, the fire 
on both sides continued very brisk. 

On the Mh, General Clay reached Fort Win- 
chester, with upwards of 100 men, for the relief 
of the American garrison. On the 5th, a part 
of General Clay's men arrived, and instructions 
were sent to him by General Harrison, directing 
him how to act in his advance towards the fort. 

Great zeal, and undaunted courage, are true 
4dharacteristies of the American soldiers; to 
these qualities the Kentuckian adds a wonderful 
contempt of danger. On this occasion, the ene- 
my received much benefit from that cool caution 
which enabled him to draw the uncalculating 
soldier into defiles, and within the reach of Iiis 
ambuscade. Col. Dudley, who was charged with, 
despatches for Gen. Clay, received the command 
of a detachment of Clay's men, landed on the 
opposite side of the river, with a view to attack 
the enemy's batteries ; he behaved with great 
courage, but pursued the enemy until he was 
drawn into an ambush, where tlie greater num- 
ber of his men were destroyed by numbers vastly 
superior ; many of those who surrendei'cd, were 
afterwards tomahawked and scalped by the sav- 
ages. Col. Dudley was among the killed. Gen» 
Clay, who oontiaued iu couimaiid of the reiiiaia- 



82 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

der of bis detaeliment, Laving landed near the 
fort, permitted the men to pursue the enem\ in- 
to the wo(uls, and was saved from a fate sisniiar 
to that (ff the heroic and unfortunate Dudley, hy 
the prudenee and foresight of Gen. Harrison, 
who sent out a party to support Clay, and defend 
his retreat. The Indians took advantage of the 
opportunity this afforded tjiem, to attaek the 
b ats, which Gen, Clay left unguarded ; the sick 
nsen in the hoats were butchered, and tiie bag- 
gage cars'ied off. 

The bravery of the American troops duiing 
these contlicts, were remarkabl> hrilHant Pre- 
CjJient chaiges were made, u^^der direction of 
C'ol. Miller, iVS.ijo?* Alexander. Captains Croghasi, 
Keving, Beiidfi rd, and Loitgham. Every bat- 
tery Ois the American side of the river were suc- 
cessfully carried. 

The enemy, after this, thought only of retreat- 
ing, wliich he effrcied in great hurry on the 9th. 
An exchange of ps'isoners was previously eff^^n ted. 

The American loss, during l^; da.^s the enemy 
were before the fort, amounted to SI killed, and 
480 wounded, exclusive of tlie loss of Dudley's 
detachment, which exceeded 200 in killed and 
niissirig. 

The enemy's loss must have been nuieh great- 
er, as his nuuiher of men far exceeded i\iM of 
the Americans. Tfie enemy was frequenflv de- 
feated by defaohments not more than a thiid of 
his numhep. 

Col. Milh^, with .350 men, made a salli^ , in 
whicli he defeated the enemy, consis«ing oT ^ 
regulars, 1.^0 mi'itiij. and 300 Indians, (.'apj. a 
Sebre's coi]M>nn.\ of Kentucky miluia, mainjai i- 
ed its gro!]nd agjunst four times i(s un^'je'. ini- 
til rescued fioui unavoidable destriiclion, by tli^ 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 8S 

t)pavery of Lieut. Gvvynne, of the 19tli regiment., 
and a part of CapJ. Elliot'ss c inpany. 

From the best aecoiint, the besieg-ers consisted 
of 560 regulars, 800 militia, and more than 2000 
Iijdiaiis. 

On the 25th April, 1813, Commodore Chaun- 
cey sailed from Saekett's Harbour, having on 
board his fleet isljo-it 1700 troops, destined to 
conjmenee operations against Canada. They 
arrived opposite Lsttle Yotk, the ea[)ital of Up- 
per Canada, o-i the morning of tlie 27 th \pril, 
and immediately commenv'ed the landing of the 
tro^ips, under a heavy file from the enemy. — 
After a very severe and sharp contest of half 
an honr, the enemy was repul?ed by a nuukber 
far i ftrio!' to theirs. As soon as the remain- 
der of the troops had la. dec), the enemy retired 
to his works. One buttery being carried, the 
troops were adva^tcing towards tise main works, 
"when a tremendous eX(>losii>n took [>iaee from 
a magazine prev!:>ur,ly prepared, and which 
threw out an imnjense quantity of stones, by 
•whi^li the Americans lost in killed and wonnd- 
ed, about 200 men ; aniong the killed, the gallant 
Bi'igadier General Pike. The British regular 
tr<iO,)s having retreated, the commanding otliecr 
of the mi ilia agreed to terms of capitulation, 
and the capital of Upper Canada was surrender- 
ed to the Xmericasi troops. The Americaa 
loss in kiHed and vvonnded, was 2«9. The 
enemy's loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
930. * 

As an evidence of the barbarity of the enemy, 
tlje f()llo>>ing despatch from Connnod^.re Chiun- 
cey <o <lie Secretary of ti e Navy, is given : 

Sir, — I have the honour to present to you by the 
hands of LicuL. Dudley, tne British standard, taken 



84j history of the wak. 

at York on the the 27th of April last, accompanied by 
the mace, over which was hung a human scatfi — 
These articles were taken from the parliament house 
by one of my officers, and presented to me. The 
scalp I caused to be presented to General Dearborn, 
who, I believe, still has it in his possession. I also 
send, by the same gentleman, one of the British flags 
taken at Fort George on the 27th of May. 1 have 
the honour to be, Vf ry respectfully, Sir, your most 
obedient humble servant, 

ISAAC CHAUNCEY. 

The riflemen, under Major Fors^'tli, first land- 
ed, under a heavy fti-e from the enemy ; General 
Pike, to whom the immediate command of the 
troops was entrusted, landed as promptly as pos- 
sible after, the remaining troops soon followed. 
The contest, on the first landing of the troops, 
"Nvas sharp and severe ; the enemy deriving much 
advantage from the circumstance that Maj. For- 
syth was driven by adverse wind from the des- 
tined point of landing. As soon as Gen. Pike 
landed, he ordered his men to advance up the 
bank, which they resolutely performed in face of 
a warm discharge of musquetry. The moment 
Pike reached the top, and was about ordering a 
charge, the enemy hastily retreated. General 
Dearborn went ashore as soon as he learned (hat 
General Pike was wounded. The town capitu- 
lated to Col. Pierce, of the 16th infantry, on 
M^hom the command devolved after General Pike 
was disabled. General SheaflTe commanded the 
British. 

On the 22d May, 1813, Commodore Chauncey 
sailed from Sackett's Ltarbour, having ^bO men 
of Col. M'Comb's regiment on board, and arriv- 
ed near Niagara on the 25th; the other parts of 
his squadron had arrived before, and landed their 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 85 

troops. The commodore had an immediate in- 
terview with Gen. Dearborn, and a plan of ope- 
rations against the enemy was agreed on On 
tlie 2fith the commodore reconnoilered the posi- 
tion for landing tiie troops; aid, at night, sound- 
ed the shore. The morniag of the iS7th, was 
fixed on for an attuck o i the enemy at Fort 
George. The heavy aralJery, and as many troops 
as could be stowed, were taken on board the 
fleet, the remainder were ordered to embark on 
board b aats, and follow t!ie ileet. At 3 o'clof-k 
in the morning, a signal was made for the fli^et 
to weigh, and the troops were embarked on boird 
the boats before 4- ; and soon after Generals 
Dearborn and Lewis went on board the Ileet. In 
the course of the morning the different vessels 
advanced, and took positions as directed. All 
the vessels anchored withiii musket shot of the 
Canada shore; and in ten minutes after they o- 
peui'd upon tlie batteries, they were completely 
sileneed aid abandon^^d. The light troops, un- 
der Col. S'jott atid VIij. Forsyth, landed a< 9 
o':'lock : Gen. Lewis's divisions with light artil- 
lery, under Col. Porter, supported them. Gen, 
Boyd's brigade landed im nedUuely after the 
light troops; and Gen^^rals WiMd:'r aad Chand- 
ler followed in quick s Jecession. I'iie momt^nt 
had arrived which tnusi nut the c:nirage, skill, 
und patriotism of the soldier and the riiizen to 
the most trying test. Every apparent advantage 
was on the side of the enemy. VU^ Rritisii c«>m- 
mander expected the attack, and he was pre- 
pared to resist it ; it was broad day ligiit before 
a laufling could h^ effected, which circumstaace 
gave to the eaemy sufficient time to Hseer?ain 
the point of attack, and to co'led and an*ange 
liis whole force ; a ravine and wood concealed 
u 



gS HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

liis force; his position was naturally stror.g, be- 
wf; the brow of a high bank, so steep that the 
artillery, which landed with Boyd*s brigade, with 
the utmost exertions ot the men, could not be 
brought into the action till some time after the 
enemy had broke and fled; the enemy's force 
exceeded ^000 regulars, and, inikiding militia 
and Indians, amounted to at least 2500 men. His 
regulars were veterans of tried courage, great 
experience, and long service ; his militia were 
trained and disciplined, his savages wrought into 
the most plirenzied animosity against the Ame- 
2'icans. Against this host, the Americans could 
bring only 1800 men, raw recruits, almost stran- 
gers to discipline, not Jnnnred to danger, and few 
of whom liad ever seen a battle. Such was the 
disparity, such the danger to be encountered, and 
such the enemy to be vanquished. The Ameri- 
can boats being too few in number, were crowded 
with men ; on their approaching the shore a most 
tremendous fire was opened on them. The lake 
was covered wi<h foam, and the batik was en- 
veloped in a continued blaze. Fortunately the 
aim of the enemy was not so accurate as his fire 
was rapid. ]Vo sooner had the light troops under 
Col. Scott landed, than, under their gallant lea- 
der, they attempted to gain the bank. Thrice 
with the most persevering courage was the at- 
tempt made, and thrice were they repelled hy an 
enemy more than five times their number. Boyd 
with the first brigade, had by this time landed, 
about five minutes after Scott, The troops were 
immediately formed in platoons and companies, 
and rushed up the bank. Boyd was the first to 
gain the summit, and for a moment was alone ex- 
posed to the enemies fire. His distance from the 
British lines was not niore than eight or ten 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 1^ 

yards at furtlicst, when every bayonet w.is in- 
stantly directed towards him. But the troops- 
hud caught too large a portion of tlie spirit of 
their chief, to leave him long in this perilous 
situation, lie was quickly surrounded by his 
brave companions, and our line was soon formed 
at a distance, varying from five to ten yards from 
that of the enemy. It was not till this time that 
the battle could be said to have fairly commenc- 
ed. The patient courage of our raw recruits 
had been most severely tried, in approaching the 
shore, amidst showers of bullets, in receiving 
with unshrinking firmness, a tremendous and de- 
structive fire, which they could not return. 
Their intrepidity was now to be proved in the 
face of superior numbers of veterans, strength- 
ened by a considerable irregular force of militia 
and Indians. The fire of our men was rapid ami 
ex;tct, to a degree seldom surpassed ; but the su- 
periority of the foe enabled him to maintain his. 
ground about itflecvi minutes. The victory was 
•^et doubtful, wlien the men heard the voice of 
their chief exclaiming the enemy jl\). The effect 
of this cheering sound in our ranks was decisive. 
It produed an instantaneous movement of our 
-whole line. And the enemy before crossing bay- 
onets, broke and tied with the utmost precipita- 
tion, leaving upwards of one hundred dead on the 
iield of battle, two hundred wounded, and one 
hundred prisoners. The victory was complete. 
Boyd's brigade, and Sj'ott's light troops, who 
alone were in the battle, pursued the enemy to 
Queenstown. If any thing could enhance the 
value of the victory, it was the fact of its being 
purchased at so tiifling a loss. 

The enemy lost I OS killed, 163 wounded, and 
tlo talvjcn prisoners. The Amerieans lost 39 



/ft/ /C%* 



^g HISTORY er THE WAS, 

killed, and 111 wounded. In the enemj's lossr, 
507 niililia, who were parolled, are not included. 

The merits of this battle, so far as they apper- 
Gained to the commander, belonged to General 
i5oyd. lie commanded during the whole of the 
action, the division under General Winder not 
being able to reach the scene of action until 
after the enemj had fled. 

Prior to the taking of Fort George, three A* 
mericans in the camp, who refused to bear arms» 
were, by order of Col. Clark, taken out, and 
^-*^^**^ without ceremony s/iot/ This infernal scound- 
'f^^p^tUS^vel met with his deserts soon after — he was kil- 
^^^^uatv led at the time of the surprise of Generals Win- 
~ ' der and Chandler. 

A fire was kept up at intervals, during the 
succeeding night, from the batteries at Fort Erie. 
On the morning of the 2Sth, all the magazines 
from Chippawa to point Albino were blown up, 
the enem^ retreated; and Fort Erie, was enterecS 
In the afternoon by the American troops* 

In these diflerent transactions. Commodore 
Chauncey bore a spirited and useful part. The 
loss on board his fleet consisted of 5 killed^ and 
11 wounded. 

Capt. Perry, afterwards known as the hero of' 
Erie, volunteered his services on this occasion, 
and usaterially aided in securing success. «• He 
was, according to Com. Chauncey's report, << pre- 
sent at every point where he could be useful, un- 
der showers of musketry, but fortunately escaped 
anhurt." 

The enemy, probably with a wish to perform 
some exploit that might ballance his losses in the 
neighborliood of Niagara, prepared with a strong 
force, to attack the American post at Sackett's 
Harbour. On the USth May the enemy's fleet 



HlSTORT 0¥ TUB WAK. 8& 

aDpeareil, accompanied by a large number of 
boais. Lieut. Chauncey, of the navy, came m 
from the lake, iiring alarm guns. Um. Juvoj 
Brown, who comnvauded the lort, made every 
possible disposition to repelthe menaced attack 
On the morning of the 29th, 33 large boats, hilea 
>vith troops, came off from the enemy, and pro- 
ceeded to Garden Island, imdcr cover ot some 
eun-boats. The militia, stationed near where 
the enemy proposed to land, fired with consider- 
al)le effect, and then fled from their post. Ihe 
enemy etHcted a landing with about 1200 men 
at Horse Island. A detachment of milina, un- 
dcr command of Capt. M-Nitt, threw themselves, 
^vith ccn^iderable effect, on the rear ot the ene- 
my's left flank, while the regulars, under Lok 
Backus, engaged and routed him. Gen. Prevost 
>vho commanded the British expedition, retreatea 
with creat precipitation, under protection ot the 
r-uns of his vessels; and thus saved himself and 
fiicn from being made prisoners. According to 
a previous arrangement, it was agreed, that, iii 
a certain event; the stores, &e. at the navy- 
point, should be destroyed. This event did not 
happen ; but some person, unauthorised, brought 
information to Lieut. Chauneey, that the battle 
^as lost— the stores, accordingly, were de- 
stroyed, r. TVT V ..T, 

Gen. Jacob Brown, of the state of ^ew-\olk 
who commanded the land forces at Sackett s- 
Harbour, gave a substantial proof of those mili- 
tary talents, which, in all his subsequent opera- 
tions, were so conspicuously uselul to bis coun- 
try, and so uniformly honourable to himselt,that 
even envy never dared lisp an insinuation di^- 
oreditable or dishonourable to the general. Sii- 
James Liicus Yeo commanded the Bntisli fleetv 



90 HISTORY OF THE WAS. 

The enemy's loss was verj eonsideraI)le, inelnd'- 
ing seveiiil officers of distinction. I'lie Anseii- 
cans lost about 1 50 in killed atid wounded ; CoU 
Mills was killed, and Col. Backus mortally 
wounded. About 400 regular troops sustained 
the heat of the action. 

At the close of the action, a British barge, 
with a naval lieutenant, under a flag of truce, 
eame to the bank of the river, and demanded of 
an otficer who was standing there, in the name 
of the general and commodore, the surrender of 
Sackett's Harbour. The officer replied " No/' 
and the flag returned, 

The pride and presumed authority of Britaiia 
on her own domain, the ocean, was materially 
tarnished. The laurels plucked from Fraitce, 
Spain, Portugal, and Holland, were withering^ 
and seemed to be transferred to adorn the brows 
of the hitherto despised commanders of the l/ii- 
lipuiian fleet of America. It was resolved, by 
the enemy, to retrieve lost honour. An expe- 
dient was resorted to which was successful, so 
far as the capturing of a ship, yet an astonished 
and admiring world remained unaltered in the 
opinion, that the superiority of American tars 
was not lessened by the event, nor the fading 
lustre of British invincibility, in any manner 
retrieved. 

For some time before the first of June, the 
British friga*?s Teoedos, Bellepole, and Shan- 
non, were off the harbour of Boston, where the 
Chesapeake lay. The Tenedos and Bellepoule, 
having put a part of their crew on bo. rd the 
Shannon, proceeded to sea. The Shannon (the 
l)**st fi igate in the British navy,) appeared alone 
©ft* (he harbour, on which the Chesapeake got 
undci? weigh, at meridian; on 1st June| ail^ 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 91 

minutes before 6, an actiosi commenced, \vi<liin 
pistol sliot, and isi a few niinntes, the vessels 
closed; the arm chest of the Chesvijieake was 
blown up by a hand grenade, thrown fsom the 
enem^/'s ship, and iinmediately aftei*, the Ches- 
apeake was carried by hoardinj^, and the pri- 
vate signals of the nav^v of the United States fell 
into the hands of the enemy. 

The enemy boasted not of this victory, it cost 
liim too dear, and was an indisputable proot of 
Amepiean bravery. Never was there such car- 
nage between two ships, in so short a time. — 
The loss on board the Shannon cannot be exact- 
ly ascertained; the loss on hoard the Chesa- 
peake, was 48 killed, and 96 wounded. Total 
killed and wounded, 14 i. 

Every officer, upon whom the command of 
the ship would devolve, was either killed op 
"Wounded previously to the capture of the ves- 
sel. The brave Capt. Lawrence was mortally 
wounded. 

On the authority of Capt. John Upton, com- 
mander of the privateer Cossack, of Salem, th© 
following circumstances were published in aa 
eastern paper : 

" After the enemy had complete possession of the* 
ship, and the men were ordered from the tops Mr. 
Berry, a midshipman, who commanded the mizon 
top surrendered himself as a prisoner, when two 
.sailors tushed up, ^nd seizins^ him by the collar, at* 
temfited to throw him overboard, but he got withia 
the shrouds, when they seized him by the heels, and 
threw him on the deck ! Being stunned by the fdll, 
he lay some time senseless, and when he rame too, 
he was cut over the head with a cutlass which nec.'» 
ly terminated his existence. Me. Livingston, ano» 
t^er midshipman^ after receiving a musket bcill 



92 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

through his body, was run through the body three 
times, notwithstanding his repeated cries for quar- 
ters, (and after the enemy had possession of the 
ship 1) he lived lonii; enough to express his indig- 
nation at the brutality of his enemies, and expired 
in a few hours. Three men were killed in the hold 
after the capture of the ship ; and they even fired in- 
to the cockfiit^ amot:g the wouijded and dying I Ele- 
ven of the Chesapeakfi's officers were confined in a 
small place, 9 feet by six, with a guard at the door, 
till their arrival at Hulifi.x, . nd only 1 or 2 permit- 
ted to come out at a time, Men were shot at in 
comiisg down out of the tijps to surrender them- 
selves, and other instanc* s of barbarity took place, 
disgraceful to a civilized people.'* 

The boasting of British editors and the re- 
joicings of British piirtizans, were rather inad 
tlian enthusiastic on the recovery of her tri- 
dent by tlie mistress of the d'-ep: bnt this re- 
joicing did not long continue; the f«cls con- 
nected with the engagemesit could not be long 
concealed. The cowardly superiority of the 
enemy, the unexampled bravery ol the Ameri- 
cans, and the great loss of blood in defence of 
their Hag, especially when contrasted witli for- 
me engagements in which the enemy was de- 
feated, left no solid ground for exultation, no- 
thing of which to boast. The unprejudiced 
reasoner will be ^et found holding the laurel, 
and doubting whether to award it to the victor 
or the vanquished. The honours conferred on 
Ca^pt. Broke, by his countrymen, were justly due 
to great valour, of which he is certainly posses- 
sed, althoiigh in this instance, it was tarnished by 
a dastardly plan to render success certain. 

The body of Capt. Lawrem^e was interred 
at Halifax^ on the 8th June^oa which occasion 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 93 

the Briiisli officers joined in procession, to show 
their respect for a naval coninianiUn*, whose he- 
roism, skill and demeanor, drew respect from all, 
even from the enemy. 

Captain Crowninshield, of Salem, (Ms.) hav- 
ing ohtained a flag of truce, proceeded to Hali- . 
fax in the brig Henry, at his own private ex- 
pense ; and, being permitted to take on hoard 
his vessel, the body of Captain Lawrence, and 
also that of Lieutenant Ludlow, brought the 
corpses to Salem, where a funeral procession 
took place, on the 17th August, with every mark 
of regret, esteem, and gratitude, which the citi- 
zens could bestow. Judge Story delivered a 
suitable oration : the effect produced on the au- 
dience when tiie orator pronounced the last dy- 
ing words of Lawrence, *• dont give up the 
SHIP," may be conceived 5 to describe it would 
he impossible. 

Mr. Edward N. Cox, brother in-law to Cap* 
tain Lawrence, proceeded to Salem, and, having 
received the bodies of the two heroes, convey- 
ed them to the city of New- York, where they 
were fi lally interred. The arrangements for a 
public funeral were made, under the direction of 
a committee of the common council of the city. 

On Thursday, the 16th September, pursuant 
to arrangements, the bodi'-s of our valiant coun- 
trymen, Lawrence and Ludlow, were finally 
consigned to the peaceful tomb The unusual 
number which swelliMi tfie mou!*nful proces'^ion, 
and the undist>eujf)led sorrow which n H^k'd ev- 
ery countenance from the hiy;}jest to the lowest 
order, evinced in an unparalleled ilegree. the 
public symstaHfy, and that the hon^.urs paid to 
the •* mighty dead*' were "ot ino'e <'ons .icnous 
thaa deserved. On no similar occasion have we 



9^ HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

Xvitnessed a testimonial of respect so univeui- 
sal and sincere. It was indeed a day of mourn- 
ing. The hearts of hoarv pati'iots, and ;^outh- 
fuJ heroes, beat in solemn unison, and the bright- 
eye of beauty glistened with a tributary tear* 
!Kot only the reflections arising from such st 
scene, but every transaction connected with the- 
proceedings of the day, were calculated to in- 
spire with reverence tlie coldest and most disin- 
terested spectator. 

The concourse of spectators who witnessed 
this interesting and impressive exhibition, was 
innumerable, and is supposed to amount to for- 
ty or fifty thousand. The streets were lined, 
the windows crowded, and the roofs covered 
with citizens, viewing the grand and solemn 
speetaele. The procession of boats in the har- 
bour, from 1(5 novelty in particular, attracted 
much attention, and the wharves and the rig- 
ging of the vess^-ls in the docks, were crowded 
with spectators. 

The corporation made a provision of 1,000 
dollars for each of the two infant children of 
Captain Lawrence. 

An application to the British naval officer, 
Ca]>tain Oliver, for permission to convey the 
bodies of Lawrence and Ludlow, by water, to 
!New-York was shamefully refused. 

Tiie following extracts, translated from a 
Fre?>ch paper, is worthy of a place here. 

" The British, who had triumphed in so many na- 
val combats, previously to the prevailing American 
war, have long relinquished the practice of rejoicing 
for victories obtained over a single frigate. If an 
achievement of that s< rt took place against any of 
the European powers, the detail of the action wa$ 
jaaerely inserted in the London Gazette, the pagei^ 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. ^5 

^f the metropolis echoed the narrative, paid a press"- 
ing compliment to the officer, and the affair went 
off, beini^ rtcorded jiro memoria^ in the Naval 
Chronicle, as a tiling of course. Votes of honour 
from the corporation of London, a sword of a hun- 
dred guineas value, and parliamentary encomiums, 
were reserved for the hero who should destroy a 
f.eet. The battle of the Nile, that of Trafalgar, 
and the like, were alone brilliant enough to excite 
the applause of a people grown callous to commoa 
feats of renown, and who, accustomed to vanquish 
every thins; on the ocean, believed themselves om- 
nipotent on that element. In the Americans the 
British have found an enemy that has obstructed 
the agreeable train of their maritime ideas. The 
citizens of the United States are the best seamen 
in the world. Their (officers are men of nautical 
science, of great experience, and generally in the 
prime of life. The first n^val combat of the war, 
marked, not a simple equality of skill and courage 
in ihe men of the two countries, but a decided su- 
periority in favour of the Americans. If the Eng- 
lisii pride was mortified at the sudden reverse in 
the capture of the Gurrriere, the whole British go- 
vernment was thrown into cons ernation at the cap- 
ture of the Macedonian, the Java, the Frolic, and the 
Peacock. Such rapid and successive defeats made 
the ca' inet of St. James bristle a2;ain ; it seemed as 
if all the English ca>)tains were doomed to pass, one 
after the other, under the Yankee yoke, or to the re* 
gions of the dead !'* 

*' A triumph gainr d by something very like an 
artifice, has given occasion to the most extravagant 
demonstiations of joy in London. \ member of 
Parliament, whose name is Croaker^ which in the 
English tongue, signifies a noisy, but contemptible 
reptile, has pronounced on the occasion a most 
preposterous eulogium, and the corporation of l.on- 
4ou have treated the affair as if the ileets of all the 



96 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 

world had been anchored in the Thames, as trophies 
of their vuhur i Who is there that does not perceive 
in this vapouring of the IsUnders, a real /ear for 
their ultimate naval superiority ? The Apiericans 
•will soon recover from this extnt- 1 hey are a peo- 
ple that do not yield to misfortune. V\ e hdd some 
experience of them 30 years ago ; and they liave 
already evinced that they have not degenerated." 

& he barbarous Us -gv- vv.iic.i lijc civw oi' the 
Cliesapeake received fioiu the enemy, when coo- 
ti'asted with th«' treatment which the brave Law- 
rence and his crew observed, when they were 
vielors, is the best possible comment on the cha- 
racter of both nations. 

It is a f lit worthy of note, and in the highest 
degree honourable to ou' brave tars, that on the 
day preceding the destruction of the Peacock, 
the crew of I he Hornet made a subscription, and 
supplied tlie prisoners (who had lost almost eve- 
ry thing,) with two shirts, and a jacket and trow- 
sers each. 

The following is the official report of an ex- 
tvaordinary event which occurred June 6. 
Copy of letter from Major general Dearborn, to 
the secr<'t.i!y oT war. 
Head- Quarters^ Fort George^ June 6, 1813. 

Sir — I have received an expess from the head of 
the lake this evening, with intelligence, that our 
troops, commanded by Brig Gen. Chandler, w iv at- 
tacked at two o'clock this morning by the whole of 
the British and Indian forces, and by some stran;:e 
fatality, t; ough our loss was small, (not exceeding 
tf.irty ) and the enemy completely routed and driven 
from the field, both Brig. Generals Chaiidler and 
Winder, were taken prisoners. They had advanced 
to ascertain the situatim of a company of artillejy, 
when the attack commenced General Vincent is 
Said to be among the killed of the enem}^ ; Colonel 



HISTORY or THE WAR. ^7 

Clarke was mortally wounded, and fell into our 
hands, with 60 prisoners of the 49th British regiment. 
The whole loss of the enemy is 250. They sent in 
a flag with a request to burv the dead. Gen. Lewis, 
accompanied by Brig. Gen. Boyd, goes on to take the 
command of the advance troops." 

It appears, that on this occasion, the advanc- 
ed i^uai'd of the American army commenced a 
sharp skii'mish with the advance of tlie enemy, 
ill the afternoon of t!ie 5th June : the latter was 
compelled to retreat iuto a thick wood. In the 
evening, the Americans took a position behind 
Sioney-creek ; the light infantry and part of the 
rifle corps, on the right of the 25th regiment, 
formed the right wing ; the artillery, under Capt. 
Townson, and Ti. Leonard, the centre ; the 5th, 
16th, and 23d infantry, and some riflemen, the 
left; a^id the cavalry in the rear; the picket 
guards were strong, and so placed, as to surround 
the encampment with centinels. The whole 
force did not exceed 1000 men, but their disposi- 
tion was the best that could he made. Three 
hundred men were encamped on the border of 
the lake, for the protection of the boats. 

About 2 o'clock in the morning, the enemy 
forced the picket, and attacked the encampment, 
in the dark with his whole force of regulars and 
Indians. The /Vmeric.tirs withstood and resisted 
the enemy with such resolution and success, that 
wlien the day dawned, none of the enemy were 
to be seen, but t!»e killed and wounded, who 
covered the field of battle. 

The attack began on the right and was gal- 
lantly repelled by the ilre of the light troops 
and 25(h regiment, commanded by fMjy. Smith. 
In a few minutes it became general along tho 
whole Uiie> and was nobly returned by the ivc- 
1 



98 »IST011Y OF THE WAR, 

tillfry of the centre, commaiKied by Captains 
Townsend, and L. Leonard, and by the troops of 
the left whig, viz. the 3th under Lieut. Col. Mil- 
ton, the 23(1 coninuinded by Maj. Armstrong, 
and the 16th. Tiie fire continued with little in- 
termission for one hour, during which time the 
enemy attempted, by frequenl charges, to breali 
our line, but without eifect, being obliged to give 
way by the well directed fire of our brave troops. 

The 13th and 14(h regiments (which had been 
fletached the preceding evening) were active in 
making prisoners, and advanced with much ar- 
dor to the field, in hopes of sharing with the 
gallant 5th, and 22d. 23d, and light troops, the 
glory of another combat. Hut the unfortunate 
capture of Brig. Gens» Chandler and Winder, 
who yMYG taken in the action unknown to any 
part of the army, and hurried to the cnent;v's 
lines, prevented the future operations from be- 
ing carried into effect, with the promptitude 
which assuredly would have takea plate, liad 
«ither of those oiBeers been present to com- 
mand. 

As soon as it was discovered that generals 
ifVinder and Chandler were prisoners. Colonel 
James Burn, on whom the command devolved, 
summoned a council of war, a majority of wlom 
derided, that the army ought to retire to its 
former position, at Forty-mile creek. 

The army on this occasion has proved its 
firmness and bravery, by keeping its position in 
a night attack, in which the yells of the Indians, 
mingled with the roaring of cannon and mus- 
ketry were calculated to intimidate. 'Jlie ene- 
my charged repeatedly, a id so dark was the 
night, that our army could not distinguish friend 
from foe ; in one of these tliey succeeded ia 



HISTOTIY OF THE WAR. 99 

carryinj^ off a 6 pounder, howitzer, and a cais- 
son, <o llie g;iTiit mortification of our brave ar- 
tillery. It is presuined'it was on tliat occasion al- 
so tliat we lost our generals, who were distinctly 
heard encouraging our men to iig;lit. 'J'lie 
squadron ofdragoons remained fornjed 'and steady 
at their posts, hut couhl not act on nccount of 
the darivucss of the night, and the thickness ol 
the adjacent woods. 

Refiort of killed, ivounded and missings in the action 
of the 6th Juncy at Stoney Creek. 

Killed — I sergeant, 1 corporal, 15 privates. 

Wounded — I captain, I sergeant, 2 corporals, and 
34 privates. 

Missing — 2 brigadier-generals, 1 major, 3 captains 
I subaltern, 9 sergeants, 4 corporals, 80 privates. 

T'o^a/, killed, wounded and missing, 154. 

Correct returns from the reports of the different 
corps in the action of the 6th inst. at Stoney Creek. 
J. JOHISSON, Ast. Adj. Gen. 

The enemy acknowledged to have on this oc- 
easion, the 8th or king's regiment, 280, men ; 
iQtii regiment, 430 — Total regular 710, besides 
•» a powerful body of Indians under the Chief 
Korton.*' As the enemy makes no mention of 
his militia, and he is known to underrate his 
actual force in every action, it may be supposed 
that his force, in the engagement at Sloney-crcck, 
was very considerabie. 

The Amtrican army took up a position at 
Forty- mile creek, 10 miles in rear of tlie giound 
on which it had been attacked. Here it was join- 
ed at h o'clock in the afternoon of the 7lli June, 
by a reinforcement under the command of Gen. 
Lewis. At 6 o'clock in tlie evening, the hostile 
fleet liovc in siglit ; the Americans lay on their 
arms during the night. At dawH of day the 



X90 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

squadron appeared about a mile from the shore ^ 
iibout 6 o'cJoek towed in a large schooner, (i^ 
being a dead calm,) with a view to destroy a num- 
ber of boats attached to the American army 
which lay on the beach. By means of a tempo- 
rary furnace, constructed in half an hour, undeF 
direotion of Capt. Totten, of the engineers, and 
by tike successful fire from 4 pieces of artillery* 
Avorked by the men of Capt. Archer and Tow- 
son's contpaniesjthe enemy's schooner was com* 
pelled to retire, without effecling the destructioa 
of the boats. A party of Indians, having occu*- 
pied a commanding en»inence, commenced an at- 
tack on tiic Americans, but were soon dislcdgcd* 
:and forced to retreat before a party of volunteers, 
under command of Lieut. Eldridge, adjutant iri 
Col. Chrystie's regiment. Sir James. Yeo, com^ 
mander of the enemy's fleet, having failed in his 
attack on the boats, sent a flag to the American 
commander, demanding a surrender of the army ; 
to this a verbal negative was given. On the 14th, 
a part of the camp equipage and baggage wcra 
put in beats, and the weather being favoura- 
ble, the boats, put off, without waiting for a de- 
tatchment of 200 men, which was ordered to go 
on board for the purpose of protecting them, in 
case of being attacked. It was a short time 
calm, but a breeze springing up, when they had 
progressed about thi ee miles, they were Lome 
down upon by an armed schooner; the most en- 
terprising kept on and escaped, others ran to the 
shore and deserted their boats; twelve of the 
boats, principally containing baggage of the of- 
ficers and men, were taken. At 10 o' clock. Gen. 
Lewis put the army in motion, in order to return 
t o Niagara ; the Canadian militia and savages 
liun^ on theirflanks and rear^i during the retreat, 



BISTORT or THE WAR. 101 

Lieul. Col. BfersUer was detached on the 
-evening of 23d June, with 570 men, lo a place 
called Ueaver-dauis, about 9 miles iVoin Queens- 
town, to disperse a body of the enemy collected 
there. The enemy's fone was understood to 
consist of above SO reguhirs, 150 or ^00 militia^ 
and 50 or 60 Indians. Col. Boirstler's detach- 
ment reached witliin about two miles of Beaver- 
dams, at 8 o'clock in the morning, when it was 
attacked fi'om an ambuscade, consisting of 500 
regulars, and 100 Indians, but soon repulsed the 
enemy, and then retired to a clear field, and sent 
an express for reinforcements. A reinforcement 
of 300 men, under command of Col. Chryslie, 
was (juickiy marched to I he aid of Col. Boerst- 
ler; but, on arriving at Queenstown, was in- 
formed, that Lieut. Col. Bcsrstler, with his com- 
mand, had surrendered to the enemy. The re- 
inforcement returned to camp. The Amerieaji 
troops fought with great bravery for two hours, 
while surroundt^d by superior numbers. General 
Dearborn, in his official statcmont, dated at Fort 
George, June 25th, expresses his surprise, *' why- 
it should liave been deemed proper to remain 
several hours in a position surrounded by woods, 
without eifiier risking a decisive action, or effect- 
ing a retreat, remains to be accoiinted for, as 
well us the project of wailing for a reinforcement 
from a distance of fifteen or sixteen miles.'* This 
difficulty was soon cleared up by ?v!ajor Chapin, 
who commanded the militia at the battle of Bea- 
ver dams, but who arrived at Butfaloe in the 
night of the loth July, having, together with 
his compfiny, escaped Trom the enemy, after be- 
ing prisoners of >%ar. Capt. Chapin stated, that 
the enemy was considerably superior in number, 
»ot withstanding which, Lieut, Col. Bcerstte 
12 



, 102 HISTORY OP THE WAK* 

would have been able to maintain his posilion, oi 
Gilt a passaj^c through the enemy, so as to eifecj 
a retreat; but at this juncture a Biifisli officer 
rode lip ar.d demanded the surrender of the A- 
merican party. 'I'he demand ^vas made, lie said, 
to prevent the effusion of blood. Ke asserted 
also, upon his honour, and declared in the most 
solemn manner, that the British regular force 
was double that of the American, and that the 
Indians were 700 in number. Lieut. Col. Bcerst- 
Jer, under a belief of these facts, and thinking it 
impracticable to get off the wounded, whom he 
was unwilling to abandon to the mercy of the sa^ 
vages, and deeming it extremely uncertain whe^ 
ther a retreat could be effected, thought proper 
to agree to terms of capitulation, which were at 
length signed by himself on the one part, and by 
Xiieut. Col. Bishop on the other. 

Capt. Chapin makes the following statement: 

"The articles of capitulatron were no sooner sign^ 
ed, than they were violated. The Indians immedl* 
ately commencfd their depredations, and plundered 
the officers of their side arms. The soldiers too 
were stripped of t: very article of clothing to which ih© 
savages took a fancy, such as hats, coats, shoes, &c." 

By the articles of capitulation, it was stipulat- 
ed that the wounded should be taken good care 
of, the officers be permitted to retain their side- 
arms, private property be respected, and the mi- 
litia immediately paroHed. How characteristic 
of a savage and faithless enemy was this shame- 
ful violation of honour and good faith. 

Major Chapin and his corps were detained un*- 
der guard at the head of Lake Ontario, and no 
attention prid to the article of capitulation> 
^hieh piovidcd for their being par oiled ^ Oa the 



HISTORY or TUE WAR. 103 

12th inst. they were ordered down the lake to 
Kiligstoii ; for which place they were embarked 
in two boats, aecoinpanied by a guard of 15 men, 
under tlie command of a lieutenant. Thirteen 
of the men, with the lieutenant, were stationed 
in the forward boat with Major Chapin and the 
other officers, while the remaining two, (a ser- 
geant and one man,) took the direction of the other 
boat, which contained the soldiers. i\n agree- 
ment had been entered into, previous to their de- 
parture, of seizing the first opportunity that of- 
ierred to regain their liberty, which they deter- 
mined to effect, or die in tlie attempt. When 
they were within about 12 miles of York, the 
bout which was filled with the prisoners, was 
rowed by them along side the other, under pre- 
tence of taking sometliing to drink. 'Die signal 
being given, they sprang upon (he guard, who 
little expected such a manceiivre. and in a short 
time disarmed them, and gained possession of 
the boats. They immediately a'tered their course 
from Kingston to Fort Niagasa, and after row- 
ing hard for most of the night, and escaping with 
difficulty from one of the enemy's schooners, 
which gave them chase, arrived in safety with 
their prisoners, at tlie American garrison. 

The following extract of a private letter from 
Fort George, made its appearance in a publie 
newspaper, in the first week in August : 

" A large boat arrived two days since from Little 
York, containing one lieutenant, and 8 of his Britan- 
nic majesty's militia, captured by 8 of our men, (3 
re^iulars, and 5 militia,) taken at Beaver Dams. The 
lieMtenant and his party were conducting them to 
Kingston — our men rose on the English, and brought 
them in here. Another boat, with 14 of Boerstler*a 
men, has just come in from York, bringing vijjf 
them their centineJ, and one ot^er person/^ 



iOi fllSTORY OF THE \V ASM 

It would be an unpardonable injustice to the 
brave Cliapiu not to give his own report of this 
heroic escape. Tlie following is a copy of his 
letter to Gen. Dearborn, dated Fort George, 
Juiie 13fh, 1813. 

*< Sir — I have just arrived from my confinement in 
CfiHada, with my men, without our parole. Our re- 
turn happened in the following manner ; 1 received 
orders at Burlington heights on Monday morning, to 
go to Kingston — We set off accordingly under the 
care of a guard of 16 men. I had with me 28 men: 
AVe all went on very quietly till 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon, at which time 1 gave a signal to attack the 
guard, which were stationed in the following order i 
A sergeant and one man in the boat with my men, a 
lieutenant and 13 men in the boat with me and two 
officers. At the signal, my men ran along side of the 
boat I was in. Lieut. Showers ordered them to fall 
astern. I ordered them on board — at which time the 
officer attempted to draw his sword. 1 seized him by 
the neck and threw him on his back — ^two of his men 
drew their bayonets upon me — I immediately seized 
both bayonets at the same instaiit, and thr< w them 
on the top of the officer, and kept all down together; 
at the same moment, my men seized the guard, and 
wrested f om them their arms — we then, having pos- 
session of the arms, changed our course, and arriv d 
here tins morning half after two o'clock, all safe. We 
have brouy^ht two boats with us. 

1 have the honour to be, very respectfully, your 
obedieut servant, 

CYRENUS CHAPIN." 

On the nth July, 18 43, 260 British regulars 
erossed the Niagara, below Black Rock, moved 
up towards that place, and marched far above 
the navj'-yard, before any alarm was given. The^ 
detached militia, being surprised, retreated up 
the beach, and left the enem^ in quiet possessioxaj 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. lOo 

of the viltagcwlio proceeded to burn the sailors* 
barracks and blockhouses at the great hattery ; 
they then proceeded to the hatteries, disn*oun(ed 
and spiked three 12 pounders, and took away 
three field-pieces, and one 12 pounder; they took 
from tlie store-house a quantity of whiskey, salt, 
flour, pork, &c. which, with four citizens, they 
took across theViver. At the first niontent of 
the alarm, Gen. Porter left Black Kock for Buf- 
faloe ; at which place he assembled a body of 
volunteers, and a few regulars, which with 100 
militia, and 25 Indians, formed a junction about 
a mile from the enemy. After being formed 
Avith the mili(ia and Indians on the Hanks, and 
the volunteers and regulars in the centre, they 
attacked, and the enemy, after a contest of 20 
liiinutes, retreated in the utmost confusion, to the 
beach, embarked in several of our boats, and 
pulled for the opposite shore ; all the boats got 
off without injury, except the last, which suffered 
severely from our fire, and from appearance, 
nearly all the men in her were killed and wound- 
ed. The British lost 8 killed on the field, be- 
sides those killed and wounded in the boats. The 
Americans took 15 prisoners, who were sent to 
Batavia. On the American side, sergeant Hart- 
man, Jonathan Thompson, and Joseph Wright, 
were killed, and $ wounded, two of which were 
Indians. 

On the 7th July, the enemy attacked a guard 
about a mile and a half from Fort George, when 
Lieut. Eldridge, with 39 men, who volunteered 
under him, went to relieve them ; but, in his zeal 
to execute the order, he unexpectedly found 
himself surrounded in the wood by Indians, who 
opened a deadly fire upon his little corps, which 
cut down 18—a few flcd^and the remainder werd 



106 HISTORY or TUB W^Ri 

taken by the Indians, and stripped, scalped, ami 
mangled in a horrid manner. Only 9 of the 
corps escaped. 

During the night of the 4th July, a party of 
the enemy, consisting, according to the British 
account, of ^i men, hut known to exceed that 
runiber, passed over in hoats from Chippawa to 
Fort Schiosser, which was giiarded by only 13 
men, whom the enemy made prisoners, together 
%vith three of the citizens ; and also succeeded in 
carrying off some flour, salt pork, whiskey, &c. ; 
one hrass six pounder, a few stands of arms, 
some hall-cartridges, &c. with which they has- 
tily retired. The enemy heing reinforced, re- 
turned on the succeeding evening to complete the 
plundering, which his hurry and fears compelled 
him to leave unfinished during his first visit, l)ut 
observing a guard, he retreated without attempts 
ing to laud. 

A body of the enemy, consisting of about 200 
men, besides Indians, attacked the pickets at 
Fort George, on the I7th July, but were brave- 
ly repulsed, after a contest of one hour. Al- 
though this affair was not otherwise of much 
consequence, it was in a degree so, inasmm h as 
it gave a full opportunity of testing the conduct 
of the American officers engaged; as it was 
fought in detachments. Col. Scott had command 
of the troops on this occasion. Gen. iloyd, in 
his ofUcial report, highly extolled the activity 
and bravery of those engaged, particularly Ma- 
jors Cummins, and Armstrong; Captains* Yan- 
deursen, Madison, Birdsall, and Towson. 

A declaration of war, of which the following 
is a copy, was issued by tlie Six Nations of New- 
York Ijidinns. immediately after the invasion csf 
t'he state by the British, 



HISTOTIT OF THE WAR, 107 

DECLARATION OF WAR. 

BY IHE SIX NATIONS OF INDIANS. 

We, the Chiefb and Councillors of tiie Six Na- 
tions of Indians, residing m the state of New- York, 
do hereby proclaim to all th« War Chiefs and War- 
riors of the Six Nations, that WAR is declared on 
our p; rt, against the Provinces of Upper and Lower 
.Canada. 

Therefore, we do hereby command and advise all 
the War Chiefs to call f <rt(' immediately the War- 
riors under them, and put them in motion, to protect 
their rights and liberti^ s, which our brethren, the 
Americans, are now defending. 

(Signed) By the Gfand Councillors^ 

Major- General Deiuboi n bud been for some 
time in a state of ill health. On the 13th July 
he was superceded in the command of the army 
on the \ia{^a'a frontier; and was succeeded by 
Gen. Bovd, the second in command. On this 
occasion, the g;enera"! received a very affrctionate 
address from General !>oyd, and the other oflicers 
servini^ at Foi^t George. As, however, the 
cause of the ,^eneral's dismissal was the object 
of various conjecture, the followin,ijj extract from 
the g.'nera! order, issued on the occasion, will 
give to the reader all the satisfaction in our pow- 
er to communieate. 

'* The major-general commanding, having receiv- 
ed orders from thp secretary of war, to retire from 
the command of this army until his health shall be 
re-established, and until further orders — he com- 
mand devolves on Brig. Gen. Boyd. Were the ma- 
jor-general permitted to consult his own feelings, no 
consideration could induce him to leave the army at 
this ijnportai.t crisis ; but the first duty of a soldier 
is to obey his superiors.'* 

About the l.?<^i or lf»th of July, two private 
iirmed boats, each carrying a 6 or 8 pounder^ 



16S HISTORY ©J THE WAR. 

and 50 men, sailed from Sackett's Harbour, td 
cruise in the St, Lawrence / On Monday, the 
19th, thej fell in with a gun-boat, carrying a 
6 pound carronade, convoying i5 of the enemy's 
b'ltteaux, captured them without the loss of a 
man, and brought them into Cranberry Creek, 
about 49 miles above Ogdensburgh. 'Fhe bat* 
teaux had on board 230 barrels pork, 300 bags 
pilot bread, ammunition, &c. bound from Montre- 
al to Kingston. On Tuesday morning, 3 of the 
enemy's gun-boats, with "250 soldiers from Pres- 
cot, arrived off the creek, and landed their men. 
The privateers men had hardly time to construct 
a breast-woi'k of their bags of pilot bread, be- 
fore they were attacked hy 200 of the enemy ; 
and strange to tell, after an obstinate engage- 
luent, in which frou) 40 to 60 of the enemy were 
killed, his force retreated precipitately to their 
boats, except 1 5, who took to the woods, and 
were pursued. The American loss was trilling, 
though it is not specified. Sixty-seven British 
prisoners, captured in the bat teaux and gun-boat, 
arrived at Watertown on Tuesday evening, 

I'he employment of Indians by the enemy 
rendered it absolutely necessary to attach the 
friendly Indians to the ai'my of the U. States. 
On this occasion there was an opportunity of 
proving that the savage can abstain from those 
barbarous acts, which the enemy must have en- 
couraged, or certainly did not attempt to pre- 
Yent. 

A body of volunteers and Indians, under com- 
mand of Major Chapin, had a skirmish with the 
enemy, near Fort George, on the 17th August, 
in which the latter wasr defeated, and complete- 
ly routed. The American Indians captured 12 
of the British Indians, and four whites. The 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. IT) 9 

Indians, in a council held with them previous to 
this iiflQiir, eoveniinted not to scalj) or murder. 
I'heir bravery in battle was as conspicuous as 
their humanity to tlie vanquished^ no insult was 
oiTered even to the dead. 

At day break on the 24th Aujjjust, the enemy, 
with liis whole force, commanded by Sir George 
Pre vost, drove in all the American pickets at 
Fort George. A skirmish ensued in the vil- 
lage, with little effect, when the enemy retired, 
leaving 13 oF his men dead on the field, and a 
few prisoners, iicluding a captain of the 49th, 
The Ainericans lost two mea killed, and a few 
wounded. 

The pain of being compelled to relate the bar- 
barity of a faithless enemy, on aluiost every oo 
casion where he had power, is pleasingly miti- 
gated by the contrast which t!ie acts of Ameri- 
can soldiers and seamen proiuce. Among the 
iimny, too numerous for recollection or detail, 
the following will be read with satisfaction: 
^< On the 2lst September, a company of volun- 
teers, principally of the village of Buffaloe, em- 
fea/ked for Sugar Loaf, (about 14 miles fronn 
Fort Erie,) under command of Major Chapin, 
with an intention to surprise and capture a Bri- 
tish guard, coDimanded by Col. Warren. The 
colonel had anticipated t4ie attack, and had 
withdrawn himself and guard fi'om the^ lake 
some miles, into the iateri^ir-Tofthe^cxmnti^y,— . 
The partyJt^o^Jifiv^Tal prisonersj^who were ita- 
Hiediately j)aroVed ; and 34 barrels of fliour, and 
a bate of blarilvets, all of which was the proper^ 
ty of govern vnent. Ther« were several hundred 
barrels of flour at the mills, but there being no 
proof of its being public property, it was not ta- 
ken. The conduct of Major Chapin, iu all hie 



110 HISTORY OF TH£ WAR. 

incursions into the enemy's territory, lias been 
strictly honourable ; carefully distinguishing be- 
tween friends and enemies : justly discriminating 
between public and private property?^ 

The American ileet, under command of Com- 
modore Chauncey, went out of the inner har- 
bour of Sackett's Harbour, the 19th July, 1813, 
and sailed soon afterward. The fleet stretched 
•Yer for the enemy's shore, and from *i hence 
stood up the lake, and arrived off Niagara, in 
tlie evening of the 27th July. Com. Chauncey 
being informed that the enemy had a consider- 
able deposit of provisions and stores at Burling- 
ton-bay, had determined to uttempt their destruc- 
tion. Having taken on board 250 infantry, the 
fleet proceeded to the head of the lake, but ow- 
ing to light winds and calms, did not arrive to 
an anchorage before the evening of the 29(h. — 
Two parties were sent on shore, who took some 
«f the inhabitants, from whom they learned, 
that the enemy was lately reinforced, and that 
he had from COO to 800 regulars. The iroops 
Mere, however, landed the next morning, toge- 
ther with some marines and sailors; but. on re- 
connoitering the enemy's position, he was found 
posted upon a peninsula of high ground, strong- 
ly intrcRched, and his camp deftnded by about 
8 pieces of cannon. Jt was jndged inexpedient 
to attack him with a force scarcely half his 
numbers, and without artillery. The men 
were re-embarked in the course of the after- 
noon; and the fleet weighed in the evening, 
and stood for York, in the harbour of which 
place it anchored about 3 o'clock, P. M. On 
the Slst, the schooners sailed into the upper 
harbour; the marines and soldiers, under the 
ctJmmand of Ct)loTicl Scott, landed without op- 



I 



IIISTOKY OF TilE WAR. ill 

position, (upwards of iOO men of the enemy hav- 
ing left Yoi'k for the head of the lake, two days 
previous to the disemharkation.) Several hmi- 
(h-ed harrels of flour and provisions were found 
in the public store-house ; also 5 pieces of can- 
non, 11 boats, and a quantity of shot, shells, and 
other stores; all of which were cither destroyed 
or taken away — a few piMsoners were taken. 
The troops were re-embarked on the 1st August, 
having previonsly burned the barracks, and pub- 
lic store-houses — the expedition arrived at Ni- 
agara on the od. 

On the 7th August, at day-light, Commodore 
Chauncey discovered tlie enemy, consisting of 
tZ sliips, 2 brigs, and 2 large schooners, on Lake 
Ontario. He immediately weighed ani^hor, and 
liianoeuvred to gain the wind. Both fleets con- 
tinued to manoeuvre for. several hours, at a dis- 
tance from each other of about 5 or 6 miles. 
Commodore Chauncey endeavouring in vain to 
bring the enemy to action. Toward aight it 
becnme quite calm, during which time the Com- 
modore cndGuvoured to reach the enemy by 
sweeps, but without success. Wind, during th« 
night, was \evy squally. At day-light, on the 
Sth, discovered that 2 of the schooners, the 
Hamilton and Scourge, mounting together 19 
guns, had foundered, and every soul on board 
them, except 16^ perished. This accident gave, 
the enemy a decided advantage, yet the Coaimo- 
dore offered him battle, which was declined. — 
In the afternoon the wind fell away, and the 
Commodore again endeavoured to reach the ene- 
my by means of his sweeps, but was again uu- 
suecessful. During the afternoon, the enemy^ 
taking advantage of a wind which sprang up, 
and brought him to windward, endeavoured to 



A1*J HISTORY OF THE WAR* 

cut off tlie American schooner, but they wer«^ 
able to come iaio Iheir station before he could 
reach thein. ISight coming on, and the weatheFy 
as on the former night, bquallj, the Commo- 
dore, to guard againhl further accid^'nt, as v;ell 
as to alfoid some rest to ifti^,;isien, \Yho hi^d been 
40 hours at quarters, ran in towards Niagara, 
and anchored outside the bar. Here he received 
en board, and distributed in diifereat vessels, 150 
Bien, to aid in boarding, in case he could close 
■|\ith the enemy. 

Soon after day-liglit on the 9th, he discovered 
the enemy, weighed amhor, and stood after Inni. 
Ihe winds were light and vaiiable, and before 
noon qtiite cahn ; at 5 P. M. the wind sprang up, 
pui'sued the probable course of the enemy during 
the night. In the morning of the 10th, discov- 
ered tiie enemy and gave him chase; before the 
\^ind cbaiTgrd, brought the enemy to windward, 
by which he was again enabled to avoid an ac- 
tion. Both fleets continued manoeuvring until 
11, when a firing commenced between both fleets. 
The wind favoured the enemy, and enabled him 
to effect one purpose of all his long and cowardly 
manoeuvring, by separating two vessels froui 
the remainder of the squadron, and capturing 
the Growler and Julia. 

On the morning of the 41th, the Commodore 
got sight of the enemy, but he still refused bat- 
tle, notwithstanding his increased advantage, by 
the capture of 2 vessels, and a wind favourable 
to him. A gale coming on, Commodoi^e Chaun- 
€ey returned to Sackett's Harbour, to obtain pro- 
visions, oi which his ships was nearly desti- 
tute. 

On the 7th September, the enemy's squadron, 
under command of Captain Yco, ^vas discovered 



mSTORY OP THE WAB. 113 

Kilosc in with the Niagara river. Commodoi^ 
Chauncey's ileet iininediately weighed anchor, 
and prepared for action. Tlie enemy sailed to 
the noi-thward ; The Commodore in pursuit. — 
The pursuit was continued all round the lake^ 
until the morning of the 12th, wlien the enemy 
succeeded in gelling into Amherst-bay. During 
the chase, there was a running fight, off Genes- 
see river, which continued three and a half hours ; 
the enemy suffered much ,• the Americans did 
not loose a man. 

Commodore Chauncey continued to blockade 
tlif enemy in Amherst-bay, until the 17th Sep- 
tember, when a heavy wind from the westward 
favoured his escape into Kingston ; and the Ame- 
rican ileet returned to Sackett's Harbour. Af- 
ter a few hours delay at Sackett's Harbour, Com- 
modore Chauncey sailed again for Niagara, 
where he arrived on the 24th. On the luth- he 
saw the enemy off the False Ducks, but took no 
notice of him, in hope that he might follow the 
Commodore up the lake. 

Oa the 26th September, Commodore Chaun- 
cey learned that the enemy's fleet was in York- 
bay ; he prepared to weigh, but was prevented 
fi'om getting out of the river before the evening 
of the 27th. On the 28th the enemy was dis- 
covered under way in York-bay. The Ameri- 
cans formed a line for battle, and run down for 
the enemy's centre. The enemy endeavoured to 
avoid an action. At 10 minutes past 12, the 
enemy, in order to save his two rear vessels^ 
was compelled to tack in succession, beginning 
at his van, when he hoisted his colours, and com- 
menced a fire on Commodore Chaunccy^s flag^ 
ship, the General Pike, for the purpose of co- 
Y^mng his rear, and attacking the Anaeri^ji!i- 
It. % 



illi HISTORY OF THE WlK, 

ifai' as he passed to Icewartl. Ey a happy Din- 
liCLuvie, Coinn.oilore Cl.auncej defeated (las pavt 
ef the adversar>'s phin, ^vhen the kitfer bore 
away. The American ships, hoT^ever, elcscd so 
near as to bring their ,a;i«ns to bear ; and in 20 
minutes, the ii.ain and mizen top- masts, and 
main yard of the Wolf \Yere shot away. This 
ship imnudiately put before the w ind, and set all 
sail upon his main mast ; and, by keeping dead 
bifore the wind, was enabled to escape. I'he 
ehase was eontinued until near 3 P. M. during 
which time xhi^ Commodore's sliip kept within 
point blank shot of the enemy, and sustained the 
whole of his lire, durhig tlie chase. 

At 15 iTniinles past ,>, the Commodore was 
obliged to give up the ehase : his ship was m.ak-„ 
jngjvater m fast, thj;t il required all his pumps 
to keep Iter clear; and others of his vessels were 
much damaged. The eneniy's fieet was within 
six Diiles of the liead of the lake, where, owing 
to Ihe stiffness ef the gale, both fleets might go 
ashore at a place in possession of the enemy. — 
1 he Commodore, therefore, thought proper to 
proceed to Niagara. The Genei'al Pike suffer- 
ed a consi<!erublc loss of men, among whom 
^ere 2^^ killed or wounded, by the bursting of a 
giin. On the 1st Ottoher, the Commodore sai!- 
ti\ again from ^kiagara, taking under convoy se» 
Teial boMts with troops for Sackclt^s Harbour, 
Having convoyed these as far as it was deemed 
necessary for ih(*ir safety, he left them to pro- 
ceed eoastwi.se ^ and he bent his course in search 
of the eneujy. 

On the 2d October, at 19 A. IV1. the enemy 
"wns discovered steering a course for Niagara, 
Commodore Chauncey ordered a chase— the en- 
tiiij avoid&d an engagement as usual^ and was. 



HISTOllY OF THE AVAR. iij^ 

f-AV aliead by sun down. On l]ie morning of the 
3(1, the cueaiy w:is diseovercd at anchor close in 
>vit'i th« land, between Twelve and Twenty mile 
creeks, but made sail, O'l discovering the Arneri- 
caii fleet. Tlie chase continued all day : the en- 
emy could barely be made out iVom the m.ist- 
head by sun-down. At day-light, on the 4th, 
he coiiid not be seen. The (J0!nmodo!*e, sus- 
pecting that the enemy, availing hiiuself of a 
very dark night, had shaped his course for 
Kiugstoii, directed his couise for the Dueks. — 
At 3 P. M. the Commodore discovered 7 sail 
near the false Dutks, gave chase, aid at 4 
o'clock, discovered tluMn to be sloops and schoon- 
ers. At 5 P. M. gained considerably on them, 
uliieh the enemy perceiving, he took the men 
out of a slow sailiig gnn-boat, and then burned 
her to prevent her capture. At sun-down, when 
opposite the Real Du<jks, the Hamilton, (late 
Growler,) Coufiance, (late Julia,) and iVlary- 
Anne, struck their colours, and were taken pos- 
session oif. The Drummond soon after struck 
to the Sylph ; and on the following morning, the 
Sylpli took possession of the Lady Goree. But 
one of the enemy's vessels, a suiall schooner, es- 
caped, and she owed her safety to the darkness 
©f the night. 

Commodore Chauneey prcceeded to Saekett's 
Harbour with his prizes. The captured vessels 
mounted iVoni 1 to 3 guns each, and were re- 
turning with troops from the head of the lake. 
The following are the number and de<^criptioa 
of troops of the enemy made prisoners o^i this 
occasion viz. 1 major, 1 capt lin, 3 suball'^rns, 
1 surgeon, 10 sergeants, 4 drummers. ^iO^? rank 
and file, of De Wattevile*s regiux nt ; 1 lieu- 
tenant^ Z master's niates^ ;jk^ socmen aiul lua^* 



'il6 HISTORY OJB* THE WAK. 

rincs, of the royal navy ; and 4 sailing-masters 
©f tlie provincial navy." TIlc enemy's squadron 
was ^een going into Kingston the same evening. 

It was cause of much surprise that the Bri- 
tish were permitted to ohtain an ascendancy as 
to actual force on the lakes Champlain, Ontario, 
and Erie; if they did not make all the use of 
their numerical superiority which they ought to 
have made, it must remain for themselves to 
explain. Commodore Yeo was hi ave, and an 
experienced officer. His apparently cowardly 
conduct on Lake Ontario, must have heen the 
iresult of hi^ ^mvate instructions. It uiust be 
confessed, that this surmise is ill supported when 
contrasted \<ith the policy of the British com- 
manders on lakes Champlain and Erie. On 
both these lakes, the enemy reckoned on success, 
as what must certainly result from his superior 
tactics, supported by a superior force. He did 
try his strength and talents against the Yan- 
kees, and with his ships and invincibility, hand- 
ed over to the Yankees, all the laurels which 
were gleaned from every other naval power.— 
The American war, on the sea and the lakes, has 
disgraced, degraded, and humbled the proud 
mistress of the deep, and raised the aspiring 
and noble minded American to a height, whick 
every nation in the world, except England, has 
witnessed with a pleasure or enthusiasm, that 
speaks a language to the Briton, not equivocal, 
but galling, dreadful, ominous. 

For some time, the enemy assumed, and it? 
fact, held the command of Lake Erie. Hi-s 
fleet was coqimanded by an officer of experience, 
who tauntingly boasted of his superioritv.-— 
Commodore Oliver H. Perry was appointed ta 
take cojamand of the Americaa fleet. Tli« Mr 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 11> 

lowing extract of a letter from him to the secre- 
tary of the navy, was dated 4th August, and an- 
nounced liis intention of meeting the enemy. 

" I have great pleabure in informing you, ihat I 
have succeeded in getting; over the bar, the U. S. 
vessels, the Lawrence, Niagara, Caledonia, Ariel, 
Scorpion, Somers, Tigress, and Porcupine. The 
enemy have been in sight all day, and are now about 
4 leagues from us. We shall sail in pursuit of them 
at 3 to-morrow morning.** 

The following official letters from the Com- 
modore, are proofs of the modesty, as the result 
of the enga^ment was, of the undaunted hero- 
ism and naval skill of this great commander. 

Cofiy of a letter from Commodore Perry to the See* 
retary of the J^avy. 

U. S. brig Niagara, off the Western 

Sisters, Head of Lake Erie, Sept. 

10, 1813, 4 P.M. 

Sir, — It has pleased the Almighty to give to the 

arms of the United States, a signal victory over their 

enemies on this lake. The British squadron, con= 

sisting of 2 ships, 2 brigs, 1 schooner, and I sloop, 

have this moment surrendered to the force under my 

command, after a sharp conflict. I have the honour 

to be, &c. 

O. H. PERRY. 
Hon. W. Jones, Secretary of the Nav}-, 

Cofiy of a letter from Com. Perry to the Secretary 
of the A'auy. 
U. S. schooner Ariel, Put-in-Bay, 1 3th 
Sept. 1813. 
Sir, — In my last I informed you that we had cap- 
tured the enemy's flei t on this lake. I have now 
the lionour to give you the most important particulars 
of tho act'on. On the morning of the 10th inst. at 
sun-rise t,hey were discovered from Put-in-JBay«. 



lis HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

when I lay at anchor with the squadron under ir<y 
command. We got under way, the wind light at S. 
\V. and stood for them. At 10 a. m. the wind haul- 
ed to S. E. and brought us to windward ; formed 
the line and bore up. At 15 minutes before 12, the 
enemy commenced firing ; at 5 minutes before 12, 
the action commenced on our part Finding their 
fire very destructive, owing to their long guns, and 
its being mostly directed at the Lawrence, L made 
sail, and directed the other vessels to follow, far 
the purpose of closing with the enemy. Evpry 
brace and bowline being soon shot away, she became 
unmanageable, notwithstanding the great exertions 
of the sailing-master. In this situation she sustain- 
ed the action upwards of two hours, within canister 
distance, until every gun was rendered useless, and 
the greater part of her crew either killed or wound- 
ed. Finding she could no longer annoy the enemy, 
I left her in charge of Lieut. Yarnell, who, I was 
©onvinced from the bravery already displayed by 
him, would do what would comport with the honour 
of the flag. At half past 2, the wind springing up, 
Capt. Elliot was enabled to bring his vessel, the Ni- 
agara, gallantly into close action ; I immediately 
went on board of her, when he anticipated my wish, 
by volunteering to bring the schooners, which had 
been kept astern by the lightness of the wind, into 
close action. It Avas with unspeakable pain, that I 
saw, soon after I got on board the Niagara, the flag 
of the Lawrence come down, although I was per- 
fectly sensible, that she had been defended to the 
last, and that to have continued to make a show of 
resistance, would have been a wanton sacrifice of 
the remains of her brave crew. But the enemy 
was not able to take possession of her,and circumstaU'- 
ces soon permitted her flag again to be hoisted. At 
45 minutes pa^t 2, the signal was made for '• close 
action." The Niagara being very little injured, I 
determined to pass through the enemy*s line, bore 
»p and passed ahead of their two ships and a brig. 



HISTORY or THE WAB. 119 

mving a raking fire to them from the starboard guns, 
and to a large schooner and sloop, from the larboard 
side, at half pistol-shot distance. The smaller ves- 
sels at this time, having got within grape and canis- 
ter distance, under the direction of Capt. Elliot, and- 
keeping up a well directed fire, the two ships, a brig, 
and a schooner, surrendered, a schooner and sloop 
making a vain attempt to escape." 

Extract of a letter from Commodore Perry. 

U. S. schooner Ariel, Put-in-Bay, 13th 
September, 1813. 

<^ I also beg your instructions respecting the 
wounded. I am s^iti^fied, Sir, that whatever steps I 
might take, governed by humanity, would meet your 
approbation. Under this impression, 1 have taken 
upon myself to promise Capt. Barclay, who is very 
dangerously wounded, that he shall be landed as near 
Lake Ontario as possible, and I had no doubt yoti 
Avould allow me to parole him." 

The following is the statement of the respect- 
iive forces of the contending fleets. 

Statement of the force of the British squadron^ 

Ship Detroit, 19 guns— II on pivot, and 

Queen Charlotte, 
Schr. Lady Prevost, 
Brig Hunter, 
Sloop Little Belt, 
Schr. Chippawa, 

63 guns. 
Ao^d-.— The Detroit was a new ship, very strongly 
•built, and mounted long 24's, lB*s,and 12*s. 
Statement nf the force of the United States equadfcn. 
Brig Lawrence, 20 guns. 

Niagara, 20 do. 

Ctiledonia, S do. 





2 howitzersj 


17 do. 


1 do. 


1 3 do. 


1 do. 


10 do. 




S do. 




1 do. and 2 swivels. 



120 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

Schr. Ariel, 4 do. (1 burst early in ac- 
tion.) 

Scorpion, 2 do. 

Somers, 2 do. and 2 swivels. 

Sloop 'I rippe, 1 do. 

Schr. Tigress, 1 do. 

Porcupine, 1 do. 

54 

The loss, on the part of the Americans, was 
.as folio vv s : 

Killed. Wounded. Missing. 

Lawrence, 22 61 83 

Kiap^hra, 2 25 27 

Ccilcdonia, 3 3 

£omers, 2 2 

Ariel, 1 3 4 

Trppe, 2 2 

Scorpion, 2 2 

27 96 123 

Two days previous to the action, 57 men unfit for 
duty in the suiall vessels. 

While .jjivin^ the Commodore's own account 
of this action, we » annot omit his laconic letter 
to General Harrison. It has heen called, hy a 
writer, " Cesarean hrevity." Cjesar said ** ve- 
111, vidi, vici," hut Perry did not conquer mere- 
ly hy showing himself to an enemy, A>ho, reckon- 
inj? on his own known superiority of force, and 
presumed superiority in tactics, calculated, with 
great certainty, on conqueri* g the Yankees.—- 
The hattle was hard foug:ht, and the loss on 
both sides very gr« at. Perry might have said, 
•^* veni vici," or as he would translate the words 
of the Roman general — ^* we met the enemy, and 
they are ours;" but the addition of <* vidi" might 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 12£ 

favour Ike opinion that he won the battle from 
the timidity or inactivity of the enemy, which 
wouU! be depriving the brave Perry and bis 
crew of more than half their merit. 

<< U. S. brig Niagara, off the Western 
Sister, head of Lake Erie, Sept. 10th, 
1813, 4 P.M. 

" Dear General — We have met the enemy — and 
they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner, 
and one sloop. Yours, with great respect and es" 
teem, O. H. PERRY." 

Hitherto we have seen the enemy beaten ship 
to ship, but now we were to witness them iieet 
to fleet; and a more decisive or splendid victo- 
ry was never acliieved. «• From the best infor- 
mation," says the heroic Perry, in a letter to 
General Harrison, <* we liave more prisoners 
than we have mesi on board our vessels." 

Compared with this, all former naval victo- 
ries lose their splendour ; even the great Nel- 
son, were he alive, must rank belo>v Perry. — • 
Nelson never captured an entire fleet ; Perry 
has, and that with a fleet inferior in size, weight 
of metal, and number of men. 

The British fleet was commanded by Com. 
Barclay, an ofllicer of great merit, and much loved 
by those under his command. At a public din- 
ner given to this officer at Teri^bone, in Canada^ 
he gave a toast, which, while it proves the can- 
dour of the Commodoi'e who gave it, is an indis- 
putable proof of the merit of him whose nam© 
was the subject of it. The toast was in the fol- 
lowing words : « Commodore Perry, the gallaut 
and generous enemy." 

Soon after the victory on Lake Erie, the Pre- 
sident of the United States appointed Oliver H» 
Perrv to the rank of captain in the navy. 



122 HISTOr^Y OF THE WAR. 

Tlie C'omniodore was presented with the free- 
dom of the cities of New- York and Albany. 

'^Ihe thanks of Congress were voted to the 
Commodore, his officers, seamen and uiaiines; 
and uiedals were presented to hhn and his offi- 
cers. 

The thanks of the Senate of Pennsylvania, 
with medals, were also voted (o the Commodore, 
and those brave men wlio served under him. 

Among the many testimonials of the grati- 
tude of his fellow-citizens, too luimerous to de- 
tail, t!ie following particulars of a present from 
the citizens of Boston, deserves to be enumerat- 
ed, viz. 

« A Salver, of an ohlong square shape, 23 inches 
long, by 16 1-2 wide, wit- a briglit gadioon edge. 

Two Ice Pails, or decanter coolers, barrel shape, 
hooped round with a bright gadroon edge at top and 
bo torn. 

Two Pitchers, of a large size, Chinese shape, with 
tx)pb, and bri'j,ht gadroous at top t^nd bottom. 

'i'\\o dozen Tumblers, plain barrel shape, wi.h ga- 
droons at bottom. 

Wine Glass coolers, each to hold a dozen glasses, 
oblong square shape, standing on feet, wi h bulls or- 
namented with a bright gadroon at bottom, and nar- 
row rim at top, impressed with an oak leaf 

A Coffee Pot, Tea Pot, Sugar Basin, Cream E'id- 
er. Tea Cady, and Slofi Bonvl — all of oblong shapes, 
standing on feet, with balls at the corners, ornament- 
ed with deep borders, iuipressed with roses and 
leaves, and with bright gadroons at top and bottom. 

The large pieces bear thr following inscription : 
SEPTEMBER 10, 1813, 

Signalized our Jirst triumjih in squadron 4 very 

superior British force on Lake Mrie, was 

entirely subdued by 

CQM, O. H. PERRY; 



HISTORY or THE WAR. 123 

tiViose gallantry in action is ecjualled only by his 
humanity in -uictory. 
PiiESENTED 
In honour of the Victor, by the CITIZE.YS OF 

BosroA^:' 

The capture of the British fleet leir.oved tho 
ohief obje't to the capture of Maiden; anil 
General' Harrison made dispositions to avail 
himself of it. Uoats >vere coUeeted, and troops 
assenihled. Governor Sheihy arrived on the 17th 
September, at the mouth of Portage river, with 
about 4000 volunteers. Gen. M' Arthur joined 
the arn»Y in three days after with his brigade^ 
from Fort Meigs. On the 21st, the embarkation 
of troops commenced. Put-in-bay Island was tne 
place of rendezvous. Commodore Perry's ileet, 
including the captured vessels, were engaged m 
protecting and assisting the men and boats, as 
well as in conveying stores, baggage, iVc. 1 he 
army again embarked on board the ileet ana 
boats at'Put-in-bay,on the 25th, and arrived the 
same evening at the Eastern SisK r, a small is- 
land about sixteen miles from xMalden. Here 
the expedition was detained some time by bad 
weather, during wliich time, a reconnoisanee of 
the enemy's coast was made by Gen. Harrison, 
and Com. Perrv; a despatcli was also sent to 
apprize Col. Jolmson of their movements, who, 
with his mounted rangers, was to co-operate in 
the reduction of Maiden. 

On the 27th, the army embarked at the fc.as- 
tern Sister, and landed near Maiden, in excellent 
order. The eiicmv having previously evacuated 
the town, it was entered by the Americans with- 
out opposition. ^ t> ^^ ' 
It has been remarked in the early part ot this 
history, that, previous to the surrender oi Be- 



12i HISTORY OF THE AVAR. 

troit to the enemy, the Indians, with the ex- 
ception of a few "who had joined the enemy, re- 
mained, inactive, Matching, with their usual sa- 
gacity, until they could discover on what side 
victory was likely to perch. True to their own 
insidious and cowardly policy, they went over to 
the victorious Britons; hut no sooner was the 
effect of treason wiped off by the courage of pa- 
triots, than the savage withdrew from his em- 
ployers, and sought peace from those, against 
whom he had so long raised the tomahaAvk. — 
By an official letter, written by Gen. M'Arthur 
to the secretary of war, and dated at Detroit, 
subsequent to the retreat of the British, it ap- 
pears that five nations of Indians, viz. the Otta- 
was, Chippawas, Pattewattemies, Miamies, and 
Kiekapoos, have sued for peace. By an agree- 
ment entered into between them and Gen. M'Ar- 
thur, on the part of the United States, - they 
have agreed to take hold of the same tomahawk 
with us, ((he people of the United States,) and 
to strike all who arc, or may be, enemies to the 
TJnited States, whether British or Indians." 

After the evacuation of Maiden by the enemy. 
Gen. Harrison pursued the British, gilthough he 
(Harrison,) had very few horses, " scarcely a 
sufficiency to mount the general officers,'* whilst 
the retreating enemy had upwards of 1000 
horses. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, the 
Americans pursued their object with so much 
diligence, that they came up with the enemy. 
The force destined for this service, consisted of 
about 140 regulars, Johnson's mounted regiment, 
^Kentuckians,) three companies of Col. Ball's 
legion,, and such of Governor Shelby's volunteers 
as were fit for a rapid march ; the Avhole a- 
mounting to about 3.500 men. J)uring the pur- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 126 

aiuif ^vhii-li Avas attended with severe privations, 
(the whole army siihsistin.^* for several days upon 
IVesh beef, without bread or salt, and the infan- 
ivy being without tents;) a considerable quan- 
tity of iirms were taken, being deserted by 
the enemy, and much more destroyed; these 
consisted chiefly of muskets taken, or rather giv- 
en to them by the capituhttion of Detroit. Two 
24 pounders, with their carriages, besides a hirge 
quantity of balls a:ul shells, and two gun-boats, 
and several batleaux, loaded with provisions 
and ammunition, also fell into the hands of Gen. 
Harrison. Tlie destruction of these were at- 
tempted by the retreating enemy, but were saved 
by the activity of the pursuers. Near a place 
called M'Gregor's Mills, on one of the branches 
of the river I'hames, the Indians were placed in 
great numbers, to dispute the passage of the riv- 
er. Upon the arrival of the American advanced 
guard, a heavy fire was commenced on it by the 
indians, on the opposite side of the river. Gen. 
Harrison, expecting the attack would be support- 
ed by the whale fo 'ce of the enemy, drew up his 
entire armv in order of battle, and brought up 
two 6 pounders to cover a party which was or- 
dered to repair a bridge, partially destroyed by 
the Indians. The Indians, as usual, wlien not 
early succ«^ssful, fled, after siiflToriig a co-isidera- 
ble loss, ^riie American loss was 'Z killed, and 3 
or % wounded. 

On the 5th October, General Harrison came 
up with the enemy; the result cannot be given 
more satisfa- torily than will be found in the 
folfowing extract from his letter to the secretary 
of war. 

" From the place where our army *vas last halted, 
to the Moravicin towns, a distance of about three 

x;2 



12(j HISTORY OF THE WAE^ 

and a half miles, the road passes through a beeeh 
forest, without any clearing, and for the first two 
miles, near to the bank of the river. At from two 
to three hundred yards from the river, a swamp ex- 
tends parallel to it, throughout the whole distance. 
The intermediate ground is dry, and although the 
trees are tolerably thick, it is in many places clear 
of underbrush. Across this strip of land, its left 
apfiaycd upon the river, supported by artillery plac- 
ed in the wood, their right in the swamp, covered by 
the whole of tlieir Indian force^ the British troops 
were drawn up. 

The troops at my disposal consisted of about 120 
i^egulars, of the 27th regiment, 5 brigades of Ken- 
tucky volunteer militia infantry, under his fxcellen- 
ey Governor Shelby, averaging less than five hun- 
dred men, and Col. Johnson's regiment of mounted 
infantry, making in the whole an aggregate some- 
thing above 3000. No disposition of an arm>y op- 
posed to an Inflian force, can be safe, unless it is se- 
cured on the flanks, aud in the rear. I had, there- 
fore, no difficulty in arranging; the infantry conforma- 
bly to my general order of battle. Gen. Trotter's 
brigade cf 5G0 men, formed the front line, his right 
tipon the road, and his left upon the swamp. Gen. 
King's brigade, as a second line, 150 yards in the 
i-ear of Trotter's and Chiles's brigade, as a corps of 
reserve, in the rear of it. 'J'hese three brigades 
formed the command of Maj. Gen. Henry ; the whole 
of Gen. Desha's division, consisting of two brigades^ 
were formed en potence upon the kft of Trotter. 

While I was engaged in forming the infantry, I 
ticA directed Col. Johnson's regiment, which was 
still ^n front, to be formed in two lines opposite to 
the ene^y, and, upon the advance of the infantry^ 
to take giiund to the left, and forming upon that 
flank, to endeavour to turn the right of the Indians. 
A moment's i<^,flection, however, convinced me, that 
from the thickn*>ss of the woods, and swampiness o£ 
tUe ground^ they Yould be unable to do any thiog Qm 



HISTORY Ol! THE WAR. ±27 

horseback, and there was no time to dismount them 
and place their horses in security ; I, therefore, de- 
termined to refuse my left to the Indians, and to 
break the British lines at once by a charge of the 
mounted infantry ; the measure was not sanctioned 
by any thing that I had seen or heard of, but I was 
fully convinced, that it would succeed. The Ame- 
rican backwoodsmen ride better in the woods than 
any other people. A musket or rifle is no impedi- 
ment to them, being accustomed to carry them on 
horeseback from their earliest youth. I was per- 
suaded, too, that the enemy would be quite unpre- 
pared for the shock, and that they could not resist 
it. Conformably to this idea, 1 directed the regi- 
ment to be drawn up in close column, with its right 
at the distance of fifty yards from the road, (that it 
might be, in some measure, protected by the trees 
from the artillery,) its left upon the swamp, and to 
charge at full speed as soon as the enemy delivered 
their fire. The few regular troops of the 27th re- 
giment, under their colonel, (Paul,) occupied, in co- 
lum of sections of four, the small space between 
the road and the river, for the purpose of seizing 
the enemy's artillery ; and some ten or twelve friend- 
ly Indians were directed to move under the bank^ 
The crotchet formed by the front line and General 
Desha's division was an important point. At that 
place, the venerable governor of Kentucky was post- 
ed, who, at the age of sixty-six, preserves all the vi- 
gor of youth, the ardent; zeal which distinguished 
him in the revolutionary war, and the undaunted bra- 
very which he manifested at King's Mountain. With 
my aids-de-camp, the acting assistant adj. general^ 
Capt. Butler, my gallant friend Com. Perry, who 
did me the honour to serve as my volunteer aid-de- 
camp, and Brig. Gen. Cass, who having no command, 
tendered me his assistance, I placed myself at the 
head of the front line of infantry, to direct the move- 
ments of the cavalry, and give them the necessary 
*iupport. The army had moved on in this order but 



128 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

a short distance, when the mounted men received the 
fire of the British line, p.nd were ordered to charge ; 
the horses in the front of the column recoiled from 
the fire ; another was given by the enemy, and our 
column, at length getting in motion, broke through 
the enemy with irresistible force. In one minute, 
the contest in front was over ; the British officers, 
seeing no hopes of reducing their disordered ranks 
to order, and our mounted men wheeling upon them, 
and pouring in a destructive fire, immediately sur- 
rendered. It is certain that 3 only of our troops were 
wounded in this charge. Upon the left however, the 
contest was more severe with the Indians. Colonel 
Johnson, who commanded on that flank of his regi- 
ment, received a most galling fiie from them, which 
■was returned with great effect. The Indians, still 
further to the right, advanced, and fell in with our 
from line of infantry near its junction with Desha's 
division, and, for a moment, made an impression on 
it. His excellency Governor Shelby, however, 
brought up a regiment to its support, and the enemy, 
receiving a severe fire in front, and a part of John- 
son's n giment having gained their rear, retreated 
with precipitation." 

The active Indian Chief Teciimseli, after 
evinciasj great resolution, ad continuing to fight 
although being hadly wounded, fell, while di- 
recting a deadl.v aim at Col. Johnson, llie in- 
vincible courage of the colonel, and his great 
presence of mind, saved his own valuable life, 
and put an end to that of an irrt concileable foe. 
While the sanguinary IVcumseh was aiming at 
the colonel, the latter, although wounded in se- 
veral parts, and much exhausted, discharged his 
pistol with great coolness, and brought the fe- 
rocious savage to the earth, where he was fon: d 
d< ad. The American loss amounted U 7 killed 
and 23 wounded -, the British loss was 12 killed^ 



HISTORY or THE WAK. 429 

^2 wounded, and 601 regulars taken prisoners. 
The Indians, from the best inlormation, suffered 
severeiy, 33 of (hem were found dead on the 
field. Six brass pieces of artillery , and two iron 
24 pounders, and a large quantity of small arms, 
fell into the hands of the victors. Every Ameri- 
can will be pleased to learn, that among the 
field pieces, were three, which were taken from 
the British during the revolutionary war, bearing 
the motto <• siwrenderedhy Burgoyne at Sarato- 
^«," and lately surrendered to the enemy by 
General Hull. Major-General Proctor, who 
commanded the enemy's forces, escaped with 
difficulty, accompanied by about 50 persons, con- 
sisting chiefly of officers of the army. 

After this total defeat of the enemy, the mili- 
tia were discharged, and Gen. Harrison, with 
his disposable regular force, accompanied by Com. 
Perry, arrived at Presque-isle, on the 22d Octo- 
ber, from Detroit ; from whence he sailed for 
Black Rock, with a view to co-operate with the 
aimy there, or at Sackett's Harbour. By this 
excursion, he, in the short space of less than a 
month, recovered the territory of Michigan, pun- 
ished and forced into peace, the numerous 
hordes of savages, captured a British regular ar- 
my, brought security to the inhabitants of the 
north western frontier of the United States, and 
marched triumphantly through a great portion of 
the Upper Province of Canada. Gen. Cass was 
left in the provisional government of Michigan 
territory. 

The instances of successful bravery, which had 
hitherto been frequent, were in a manner, eclips- 
ed by the following : 

Major George Croghan, in the 22d year of 
fcis age, was left^ by Gen. Harrison, in command 



130 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

of 1 60 men, and with one six-pounder, at Fort 
Stephenson, (Lower Sandusky.) 

In the course of two weeks, there had heen 
no fewer than ten rencounters; in one of which, 
the enemy carried a block-house at Fort Madi- 
son on the 10th July, from which they attack- 
ed the fort, but without success. Four men 
were butchered in the block-house. 

It would appear, that it was Gen. Harrison's 
intention, not to expose the small force at Fort 
Stephenson, to be cut off by an enemy very su- 
perior in numbers ; and the major was, tor a 
short time, superceded in the command, in con- 
sequence of disobeying an order to burn and 
evacuate the fort ; but, on his arrival at head- 
quarters of the general, he gave such satisfac- 
tory evidence of his ability to maintain the post,- 
that he was immediately sent back with direc- 
tions to resume the command. 

On the evening of the 1st August, the British 
and Indians, who had come up the Sandusky 
piver, from the bay, commenced from their 
boats a heavy cannonading upon the fort, and 
threw in a great number of shells from their 
bomb batferies. The enemy continued his op- 
erations without success until the evening of 
the 2d, when, after throwing a great nunsber of 
balls from a six- pounder, at tbe north-west an- 
gle of the fort, for the purpose of making a 
breach, a coUnnn, under coniniand of Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Sljort, advanced to the point on which 
the artillery had been played, with intention of 
storming, but the judicious maDa.s;ement of Ma- 
jor Croghan, foiled the en*^jny in his attempt. 
The dik'h. whi?'h surrounded the works, was 
about eight ft^i^t wide, and of equal d< pth — this 
tlie enemy had to enter before they could ap^ 



HISTORT OF THE WAR. 131 

proach the pii'kets : (through the top of each, 
a ba^vonet w.is driven in a horizontal direetio ,) 
while ia this situation, the six-pounder, which 
was masked in a hlock-house, and a ravine ad- 
jacent, poured upon the storniiuii; eoluuin a tre- 
mendous shower of musket balls, whieJi did ter- 
rible execution, and so coiifouuded the assail- 
a its, that Lieut. Colonel Short, who had pre- 
viously ordered his men to *• scale the pickets, 
and sliow the damned Yankee rascals no quar- 
ters.'* exhibired a white hiiudkerehief as a sig- 
nal of distress eviucin,i^ his disposition to have 
q'larters j^iven him, after he had pro laiuied 
that the ii;ariisoi siiouM be massacred. It was, 
however, too late — the next discharge proved 
fata'!- — he fell — and Lieut. Gordon of the :^9th 
regiment, died bv his side. This was near two 
hours lutbie sun set. Hie tiring from the 
block-house was principally directed at the en- 
emy who had taken refuge in the directi(ui of 
the ravine — tlie slaughter there was immense, 
and Gen. Proclor,, who commanded in persoUf 
oidered the al.ied enemy to retreat to tiieir 
boats. The gi^eater part of the night was oc- 
cupied in carrying off the dead and wounded — 
from the number of ti*ai!s disv overed in the 
glass, it is evident that no less than 50 of the 
dead were dragged away. A!)out .^0 killed, in- 
eluding tlie two officers mentioned above, were 
left in the ditch and ravine — and 30 prisoners, 
IS severely wounded, which (ien. l*roctor, in his 
hurry, left behind, were afterw 4-'ds bi"<»ught in- 
to the fort. It is a fact, wortliy of observati h 
that not one Indian was found an orsg tlie de d 
although it is known that from 3 to 400 were 

present, under the celebrated Captain i^^lliot 

The number of British regulars was i90, from 



132 HISTORY 01 THE WAH. 

the 49th regiment. Major Croghan had but 
one man killed, and 7 slightly wounded. 

The British loss, by their own confession, 
amounted to 91, exclusive of Indians. There 
was, however, sufficient evidence to justify the 
belief, that it was considerably more. 

AVhen Colonel EHiot demanded the surrender 
of the fort, he stated, that, unless his demand 
was promptly acceded to, a general massacre 
rvoiild ensue. And when Colonel Short, who 
commanded the British regulars, destined to 
storm the fort, had formed his troops in a line 
parallel with the ditch, he ordered them, in the 
hearing of our men, to leap the ditch, cut down 
the pickt'ts, and give the Americans no quar- 
ters. This barbarous order, which none but a 
savage could give, was not, however, permitted 
to go unpunished; for the words were hardly 
out of the mouth of the British comniander, 
when the retributive justice of Providence ar- 
rested him; and the wretch was obliged to sue 
for that mercy which he had determined not to 
extend to others. It may be observed here, in 
honour of the character of the American sol- 
diers, that although their little band were well 
aware of the fate which the enemy had prepared 
for them, yet, they were no sooner subdued, 
than the Americans forgot the crimes of the en- 
emy in their sufferings ; and the ivounded in tli& 
ditch^ whose gi^oans and constant calls for waier^ 
were heard hy the men in the fort, were sujy})lied 
with that necessary article, on the nighl succeed- 
ing the discomjilure of the enemy, hy the genero- 
sity of the Americans, who, with consideraljle 
hazard, ventured to risk their lives in order to 
alleriate the sufferings of the very men ivho had 
jplotted their en I ire destruction. 



HISTORY OF THE WA.R. 153 

The brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel has been 
conferred by the President of the United States 
on M.ijor CrogUan. 

The ladies of Chillieothe have presented him 
with a sword, and a flattering address. 

On the 3d of June, a detaehment of the ene- 
my, with a nunil)er of gun-boats, fioji Isle- 
Aux-iVoix, sueeeed'd in capturing the U. S. 
armed vessels. Growler and b>a,^le, on Lake 
Chainplain, after a well contested dcft-nee by 
the brave crews of these vessels, against a very 
superior force. The consequence was, that the 
enemy gained a very decided superiority on the 
lake. 

The enemy reckoned on success in his future 
operations in this quart' r, not only froui his 
own superior force, but also from the unprepared 
state of the Americans. Com. Maedonough 
had not a sufficient number of seamen to m^a 
his sloops, and would be highly reprehensible 
had he been defeated in an attempt to recover 
the aseende-icv on the lake. There were no 
troops statio led at Plattsburgh. While things 
were thus situited, the British floti la. consist- 
ing of 2 sloO;>s of war, (the Kagle and Growler,) 
lately captured, 3 gui- boats, and it batteaax, 
loaded with troops, sailors, and marines, about 
1 *00 in all, under the eouimand of Col. Murray, 
crossed the line at Cham dain, on the 30th Ju- 
ly, and entered Plattsburgh on the foP.owino; day. 
On the first information of the apjivoach of 
the enemv. Gen. Mooei-s gave orders for calii 15 
out the militia; and when the enemy aiVived, 
about 300 from Plattsburgh and the neighbour, 
ing towns, had collected, who retired back a few 
miles, where they were joined by the residue of 
the regiment from the county of Essex. 

M 



i34 HISTOBY OF THE WAR. 

Although the officers who had the comtnaiicl 
of the expedition, assured llie eivil aulhorii^ of 
the village, that private prc;pertj should he re- 
spected, 'and that citizens not in arms, should 
remain unmolested — >et these promises were no 
sooner miide than violated ; the enem^, not sat- 
isfied with destroying the piihlic huiidings, such 
as the hloik-house, arsenal, armory, hospital, 
aud military cantonments, wantonly burned two 
store houses, belonging to Pet* r Sailly, esq. 
and one belonging to Major N. Z. Piatt — took, 
and carried off several thousand dollars worth 
of hardware, belonging to Prothinham & Co. 
of Boston, which had been stored with Mr. 
Sailly. I'he destiuction of private property 
was not limited to such as they could eat, drink, 
and carry away, but furniture, which could not 
be of any use to the pluisdeiers, was wantonly 
destroyed — tables, bureaus, clocks, desks, cup- 
boards, and crockery, wt^re cut and broken to 
pieces, and thrown about the houses — books and 
writings were torn to pieces, and scattered about 
the streets. 

The various successes of the enemy, during 
their short visit to Plattsburgh, are described 
by several respectable authorities, to be enor- 
n'tous. cruel, and wanton, in a high degree. — 
« W^^ll was it." says one of the witnesses of the 
scene, *< for our wives, sisters, and daughters, 
that they remembered the excesses at Hampton, 
and trusted not their persons to the mercy of the 
invaders." 

On Sunday, the faithless ruffians, the unprin- 
cij^led invaders, re-emburked, and stood out of 
the l)ay. They took a Durham boat, loaded 
with flour^ and 8 sloops, one of which they burn- 
ed. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 135 

On their return to Point-aii-Roche, the crew 
ot* one of the hoats landed, and part went to the 
house of a Mr. Williams; they found his wife 
out of the house ; two of them went in, to keep 
the husband in cheek, while the third attempted 
to gratify his brutal desires upon her. Her hus- 
band, hearing her screams, came to her assist- 
ance, and in the struggle, the woman discharged 
the villain's gun, disengaged the bayonet there- 
from, which she stuck twice into his own back, 
and wounded him pretty severely; the other two 
fled, and Mr. Williams and his wife fiound the 
rascal, and sent him in; the inhabitants on Point- 
au-Roehe, took the skiff in which they came, and 
the other soldiers. 

The United States' troops at Burlington, un- 
der command of Maj. Gen. Hampton, consisted 
of about 4000 men. They were under arms, 
wailing the approach of the enemy, and would, 
undoubtedly, have defended their post against 
any attack they could have made on it. 

On the 3d August, the enemy appeared before 
Burlington, and fired into the town for some 
time, but no considerable damage wa« done. In 
the evening of the same day, a detachment pro- 
ceeded to Shelburne, 4 or 5 miles south of Bur- 
lington, where they seized a sloop, with about 
400 barrels of flour. The limited force under 
Gen. Hampton, would not justify his detaching 
any part of his troops from the protection of 
property and stores under his immediate care: 
the marauding enemy wisely retired before re- 
inforcements could have arrived. 

It was the intention of the U. S. government^ 
to make an attack on MontreaL before the win- 
ter would put an end to the campaign. The ef- 
fecting of this object would give to the United 



iS6 HISTOKY or THE WAR. 

States the entire command of Upper Canada, 
completely subdue the Indians, regain the conii- 
denee of the Canadians, which was suspended by 
the sudden retreat, and subsequent conduct of 
Gen. Hull, and make an impression on the ene- 
my, which must incline him to peace, on just and 
honourable terms. A large force was ordered 
to Sacket<'s Harbour; and Gen. Wilkinson, who 
had the cisief command, was ordered to use his 
utmost effort, and the greatest possible expedi- 
tion in carrying the design into effect. 

On the 1st Nov. 1813, Gen. Wilkinson's army 
began its movements from Grenadier-Island, 
down the St. Lawrence. They had not proceed- 
ed far, before the advanced corps, under General 
Brown, was attacked by the enemy, from the 
shore. On returning the fire, the enemy dis- 
persed, and the army advanced. 

The movements of the army under General 
Hampton, were intended to facili(ate those of 
Gen. Wilkinson ; and both armies were finally to 
Tunite, previous to the attack on Montreal. 

The army under Gen. Hampton, moved from 
Cliateaugay on the 21st October, and arrived 
at its positfon at Sears's, on the 22{\ — thus hav- 
ing, with imredible labour, surmounted 2i. miles 
of the most difficult part of the route, through 
the extensive and almost impassable forest, 
which bounds the Canada line. After 4 or 5 
"miles of open country, another forest of 6 or 7 
miles was opposed to their march, (which was on 
the no!th-west side of the river.) This the en- 
emy had made alntost an entire fortification, by 
crossing it with felled trees, interspersed with 
breast-works and ditches : through these ob- 
structions, the enen^y was to be assailed^-a part 
*f their forces, consisting of light troops and 



\ 



HISTORY OF THE AVAR. 1ST 

Indians, were posted in these defences, while the 
main body, commanded by Sir George Prcvost, 
in person, was lodged in (he r< ar, fortified with 
batteries and cannon. Tlie hardships the Ame- 
rican army had endured, the continual rains that 
were tailing, and the obstructions in front, would 
have damped the ardour of troops less disposed 
to disregard all sufterings and perils in pursuit 
of glory, and in the service of their country — 
but oa the contrary, partaking largely of the 
spirit which inspired their commander in chief, 
every individual seemed uncommonly emulous of 
the enterprise. 

It was believed that the obstructions could 
not be forced by tlic main body, without great 
loss. To avoid this, the light companies, and a 
regiment of infantry, were detaclied at dark, 
on the evening of the 2i?th, to proceed on the 
opposite (S E,) side of the river, to a fording 
place, below the enemy's advance, which they 
were to cross, and attack the enemy in flank 
and rear, while the main body should attack in 
front; and thus destroy the enen)y's defence 
at a blow. (Uving to the darkness of the night, 
incessant rain, and the diiiiculties of the wood, 
the guide who eonducted tliis detachment hav- 
ing lost his way, the party did not arrive at the 
proposed point. Tbe battalion of the lOtli re- 
giment, consisting of about 200 men, were, at 
the appointed time, (3 O'clos'k, P. M. on the -i6th) 
at the entrance of tlie obstructed wood, waiting 
the attack of the troops on the enem.>'s flank,, 
which was to l>e the signal for them to advance. 
At this moment, the enemy commeneed a fire 
on this hvittalion, who jiromptiy return* d it^ 
then chirged and drove the enemy froMi their 
lurking places, dispersing them entirely, an^ 



138 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

silencing their fire ; in tbis the Americans had 
only one man killed, and some 3 or 4 wounded. 
At this moment, the firing commenced on the 
opposite side of the river, with some of the liii;ht 
companies, and it was here, and not in either 
of the main divisions of the army, that any se- 
rious loss, or the least confusion occurred ; the 
enemy was, however, soon dispersed in this 
quarter a>so. After waiting son;e time for the 
renewal of the enemy's attack, the main body 
of the American army fell back slowly, and in 
good order, the enemy not daring to show 
themselves, or in the least to interrupt their 
inarch, to a position 4 miles from the place of 
action. Here they were shortly after joined by 
the detached party, who had had some further 
skirmishing with the enemy of m> gi-eat account. 
At this place they remained several days, with- 
out receiving the least molestation. The only 
failure of the expedition, is attributable to the 
miscarriage of the guide, which disconcerted a 
plan, that otherwise must have led to the cap- 
ture of a considerable portion of the enemy's 
force, and the complete destruction of his plan 
of defence. 

The American actual total loss, in killed, 
•wounded, and missing, did not exceed 36 men. 
The whole American force engaged, did not ex- 
ceed 225 men on the side where the greatest 
force of the enemy were opposed — the other re- 
giments did not arrive until the moment when 
the enemy were retiring, and were only formed, 
and in line, but took no part in the engage- 
ment. 

Colonel Purdy, who commanded the detach- 
Blent which fought this battle, in his report to 
Scfi. Wilkinson, is very free in his censure ot 



HISTORY OF THE VfXVt. 139 

Gen. Hampton. «* Incredible," says the colonel, 
« as it may appear. Gen. Hampton entrusted 
nearly one half of his army, and those his best 
troops, to tbe guidance of men, each of whom 
repeatedly assured him, that they were not ac- 
quainted with the country, and were not compe- 
tent to direct such an expedition." 

•« Towards sun down," says the colonel, « I 
sent Gen. Hampton a request, that a regiment 
might be ordered down to cover my landing on 
the opposite side of the river; but, judge my 
surprise, on receiving intelligence that he had 
retreated with the second brigade, nearly three 
miles." 

« Never, to my knowledge," says the colonel, 
in another part of his despatch, •* during our 
march into Canada, and while we remained at 
the Four Corners, a term of 26 days, did Gen. 
Hampton ever send offa scouting or reeonnoitre- 
ing party, (except in one or two cases at Spears's, 
in Canada, when he detached a few dragoons 
for this duty,) nor did he, from the time we coin- 
menced our march from Cumberland Head, to 
our arrival at Plattsburgh, ever order a front 
flank, or rear guard, to be kept up, though a 
great part of the time we were in situations 
which evidently required it. True it is, these 
guards were occasionally sent out, not, however, 
by his order, but by the orders of the ofiicers 
eomirranding brigades." 

The colonel wi?Kls up his cliarges against Gen* 
Haiapton, by saying, *» Such has been the gene- 
ral's conduct, on some occasions, that I have, 
in common with o(her ofiicers, been induced to 
believe, that he was under the influence of a (oo 
free use of spiritous liquors." 

The official account of this action^ bj the 



140 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

British General Bajnes, is very different froiii 
t!»e above, but so improbable and wide from the 
truth, thai it may, wiJh much safety, be averred, 
tha( it did not meet belief from a single reader 
of any jasty. 

As soon as General Wilkinson passed Kings- 
ton, and that it became evident, he must have 
designed the taking of Montreal, the troops 
"whieh were stationed for the defence of Kings- 
ton, were employed in annoy mg and delating 
the progress of the American army. *< I'he 
corps of the enemy," says Gen. Wilkinson, in 
his official report to the secretary of war, *» from 
Kingston, which followed me, hung on my rear, 
and in concert with a heavy gjiUey, and a few 
gun-boats, seemed determined to retard my 
progress. I was strongly tempted to halt, turn 
about, and put an end to his teasing; but alas! 
I was confined to my hed ; Maj. Gen. Lewis 
"was too ill for any active exeriions ; and above 
all, I did not dare suffer myself to be diverted a 
single day f. om the prosecution of the views of 
government/' 

On the 10th, about noon. Gen. Brown, wha 
was with his command in fro^U, and some dis- 
tance below the main body of the army, was en- 
gaged with the enemy, at the monjent when a 
strong party of the enemy advanced on the rear 
of Gen. Wilkinson, w ith several gallies and gun- 
boats ; from whence they commenced a iircj. 
but were soon compelled to retii*c from the fire 
of a battery of 18 pounders, planted on the oc- 
casion. Wilkinson's army came to for the 
night, a short distance above the Longue 8aut f 
it was, intended to pass it that day, but the de- 
lays occasioned by dis-embarking, and re em- 
lurking Ueavy guns, prevented the arjii^ froaa& 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 141 

leaching the Saut as early as expected; and 
the pilots would not dare enter the Saut, (a ra- 
pid of 8 miles,) at a late hour. At 10 o'clock 
the following day, Gen. Milkinson received ad- 
vice, that Gen. iirown, having forced (he ene- 
my, would arrive at the foot of the Saut early 
in the day. Orders were immediately given 
for the flotilla to sail, at which moment, the en- 
emy's gun-hoats appeared, and began to throw 
shells among tlie American flolilla. General 
Wilkinson, calculating from reports and appear- 
ances, that the enemy only looked for a fa- 
vourable opportunity for attack, had determined 
to anticipate him. *' Directions," says General 
"Wilkinson, ** were accordingly sent, by that 
distinguished officer, Col. Swift of the engineers, 
to Brig. Gen. Boyd, to throw the detachments of 
his command, assigned to him in the order of 
the preceding day, and composed of men of his 
own. Covington's and Swartwout's brigades, in- 
to 3 columns, to march unon the enemy, out- 
flank him if possible, ar. I take his artillery* 
The action soon after coo^menced with the ad- 
vanced body of the enemy, and became extreme- 
ly sharp and galling, and, with occasional pau- 
ses, tiot sustained with great vivacity, in open 
space, and fair combat, for upwards of two and 
a half hours— the adverse lines alternately 
yielding and advancing. It is impossible to say, 
^vith accuracy, what was our number on the 
field, because' it consisted of indefinite detach- 
ments taken fiom the boats, to render safe the 
passage of the Saut. Gens. CovisfgJon and 
Swartwout. voluntarily took part in the action, 
at the head of detuchments, froju the ir respec- 
tive biigades, and exhibited the same coirage 
that was displayed by Brig. Gen. Boyd, who hap- 



142 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

pened to be the senior officer on the ground.— 
Our force engaged might have reached 16 or 
1700 men, but actually did not exceed 1800; 
that of the enemy was estimated from 1^00 to 
2,000, but did not probably amount to more than 
15 or 1600 — consisting, as I am informed, of 
detachments from the 49th, 84th, and 104th re- 
giments of the line, with three companies of the 
Yoltigeur and Glengary corps, and the militia 
of the country, who are not included in the es- 
timate." 

This battle (the battle of Williamsburgh,) was 
©ontested with a courage and obstinacy, that 
perhaps had no parallel. To witness undisci- 
plined troops, and inexperienced officers, substi- 
tuting courage and patriotism in place of mili- 
tary knowledge; and thus opposed, for 3 hours, 
to a regular army, was a sight on which the 
guardian angel of America, must have looked 
with exultiisg gratification. Amidst a shower 
of musketry and Shrapnel-shelUf the brave 
Americans, insensible to fear, dashed into the 
ranks of the enemy, whose position was strength- 
ened by ravines and thickets. The enemy re- 
tired for moi'e than a mile before the resolute 
and repeated charges. The brigade, first en- 
gaged, had expended its ammunition, and was 
compelled to retire, in order to procure a sup- 
ply. This movement so disconcerted the line, 
as to render it expedient for another bri^sjade to 
retire. The artillery, owing to the nature of 
the ground, couid not be biouglit up until after 
this event. The fire from the artillery was ve- 
ry destructive to the enemy ; but w hen direct- 
ed to retire, in passing a deep ravine, one pieea 
was lost, but not until after the fail of its gal^. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. iiS 

lant commander, Lieutenant Smith, and most of 
Lis men. 

The whole of the line was re-rormed on the 
boi'ders ol' those woods IVoin wiiioh the enemy 
had lirst been drive;i, ^vhen night coming on, 
and the storm continuing and the object of .at- 
tack having been i'u.ly aecoinpli^hed, the troops 
weie directed to return to ihe g;ound fu':>r the 
fiotiila, which movement was execiJt: d in ^<*od 
Older, and without an^ intciTupiioa irom the 
cncm^. 

General Covingt');i received a mortal wound, 

wliile leadiTig his men to a succ'ssful ch^irge . 

Colonel I'reston was severely wounded, while 
lighting at the head of his regiment. Major 
Cummings ret eived a severe wound, wliile nsak- 
ing a charge, hut ,vet continued to tight until 
exhausted by the loss ot*b!<od- (leneral Bo^d 
hvis taken p^rti ular notice, in his offi.iai des- 
patch, of the mei'its of* Bfig. Gen, Swart wout; 
Colonels Coles, Wal'm k, Johnson, Pierce, 
Gaines, Rij 1 v, and Aspinwall ; M.jors Morgan, 
Crafton, Gardner. Beebe and Chambers : Lieu- 
tenants Henrv. Whiting, and Worth. The gen- 
eral concludes his report in the following words; 
<* Permit me now to add. sie, tliat though the 
rrsult of this a tion was not so brilliant an<l de- 
cisive as 1 could have wished, and the first sta- 
ges of it seemed to proajise, vet, when it is re- 
co-lc' ted, that the troops had been long expos- 
ed to hard privations and fatigues, to inelesrent 
storms, fioni whiih they cou:d have no shelter; 
that the enemy were sup«-rior to us in numbers, 
and great'y s!iperior in posit it; n, and supported 
by 7 or S heavy gun boats : that the action be- 
ing unexpected, was necessarily commenced, 
'^Yiihout much concert; that we were, b^ una- 



144 HISTOTEIY OF THE WAK. 

Toidable circumstances, long deprived of out* 
arrjllery; and that the action was warmly and 
obstinately contested for more (han three hours, 
durirsg whi h there were hut a few short cessa- 
tions of muskefry and cannon ; when all these 
circumstauees are recollecte«'l, perhaps this day 
may be thought to have added some reputation 
to the Ansericiin arms. And if, on this oeca- 
s on, you shi II believe me to have done my duty, 
and accomplished any one of your purpose s, I 
sholl be sanslied " 

Aftt-r this engagement, the troops proceeded 
down the river without further annoyance from 
the enemy or their gim boats, while the d: a- 
goons, with five pieces of arlilery. marc5ied 
down the Canada shore witliout molestation. — 
'J'he next morning the flotilla passed through 
the Saut, and joined Gen. Brown, near Corn- 
walL 

On the arrival of General Wilkinson with 
General Brown, he learned that General Hamp- 
ton, instevid of meeting him near that place, was 
inarching towa; ds Lake Champlain. I'he letter 
of General Hampton, announcing this unexpect- 
ed movement, together with a cojiy of that to 
whi^h it was an answer, were immediately sub- 
mitted to a coimcil of war, who unanimously 
gave it, as their oj>inion, *' that the attack 
on Montreal should be abandoned foi* the pre- 
sent sia^^on. ami the army near Cornwall should 
be imujcdiately crossed to the Amei'iran shore, 
for taking up winter quarters, and that this 
place afforded an eligible position for such quar- 
ters.'* 

Thus ended the campaign, and an ex'iedition 
which seemed, in every respect, well calculated 
to effect its object. 



» HISTORY OF THE WAH. 145 

frenpral AVilkinsoru who attrihuted the fai- 
lure of (his expedition to ** the extiaordinai y, 
unexampled, and it appears, unwarranialile eon- 
duet of Major-lieneral Hampton, in rel'iisin.^' to 
join this army, with a division of 4000 men. iia* 
der his command, agreeahie to ordei's," in a let- 
ter to the secretary of war, of 15th Novemher, 
writes — 

*•' It is a fact, for which I am authorised to 
pledge myself, on the most confidential author- 
iy, thai on the 4th of the present moatlj, the 
British garrison of Mo Ureal, consisted solely 
of iOO marines, and 200 sailors, which had heen 
s^nt up from Quebec. We have, with the pro- 
vision here, and that left at Chateaugay, about 
40 day's subsistence, to which I shall add 30 
more." 

In a letter of the 17th November, Gen. Wil- 
kinson writes — \^ 

"After what liw<- passed between us, you can 
perhaps, conceive my amazement and cliaygrin, 
at the conduct of Major-Genei*al Hampton. The 
game was in view, and, had he perfoi'med the 
junction directed, would have been ours in eight 
days. But he chose to recede in or<ler to co- 
operate, and my dawning hopes, and the hopes 
and honour of t!ie army, were blasted.*' 

The loss at the battle of Wiriamsbur^h, in 
tipper Canada, consisted of 102 killed, 339 
wrunded, including officers. The enemy's loss 
was represented, by authority worthy of credit, 
to exceed 500 in killed and wounded. 
Stat'^ment of the strength of the enemy, in the ac- 
tion of the 1 1th November, 181 3, on Kesler*s field, 
in vVil!iams!»urgh, in Upper Canada — founded on 
the separate examination of a niunber of British 
prisoners taken on the field of battle. 

JS" 



146 HISTORY OE THE WAR. 



Of the 89th regiment, 


760 




49th do. 


450 


' 


Voltigeur's, 


270 




Glengary's, 


80 


one company. 


Of the 100th, 


40 


a detachment from 
Prescott. 


Canadian Fencibles, 


'220 




Indians, 


40 




Incorporated Militia, 


300 





2160 
Four pieces of mounted artillery, and 7 gun-boats — ■ 
one mounting a 24 pounder. 

After the troops went into winter quarters, a 
plaeai'd was distributed in the American eamp^ 
of which the following is a copj. 

<* To the Jiimrican Army at Salmon Biver, 

NOTICE. — All American soldiers who are^willing 
to quit the unnatural war in which they are at present 
engaged, will receive, at the British out-posts, the 
arrears due to them by the American government, to 
the extent of five month's pay No man shall be re- 
quired to serve against his own country." 

This produced no desertions, nor any other 
effect, except contempt of the wretched author 
of the placard. 

A very handsome affair was executed the 12th 
October, by a party of men, under command of 
Col. Isaac Clark. The Colonel, with his party, 
left Ch-zy landing, so as to arrive at Massas« 
qaoi-bay at an early hour in the morning. He 
arrived unperceived within a few rods of the 
eneniy. who were drawn up in order on)attle, 
hy their commander, Major Powel. I'he en- 
emy commenced a fire on the left flank, but in 
ten minutes after the first attack, they laid 
down their arms, and surrendered themselves 
prisoners of war. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 147 

Col. Clark despatched Capt. Finch, with his 
conipan;^', to reconnoitre the course of a hody of 
ahout 200 men, who were supposed to be ad- 
Tancing against him. Capt. Finch proceeded 
with such promptness and ability, as to surprise 
and capture the advanced guard, consisting of 
cavalry, except one man, who fled, and, giving 
the intbrniation, the enemy escaped. 

The prisoners were then put on hoard hoats, 
and sent to Burlington. 

The whole American force engaged was 102,, 
Tlie number of prisoners taken was 101 ; tlie 
killed and wounded of the enemy, 2o. 

The success of this expedition was materially 
aided by a knowledge of the country, into which 
he marched, which a commander of an expedition 
should always be full master of. 

The following gallant action will he best de- 
tailed by giving the official report which wan 
made, in the following words : 

" Charleston, ( S. C ) August%\^ 1813. 

Sir — I have the honour to inform you, that the pri- 
vateer schooner Decatur, of this port, arrived here 
yesterday, with H. B. M. schooner Dominico, her 
prize. She was captured on the 5th inst. after a most 
gallant and desperate action of one hour, and carried 
by boarding, having all her officers killed or wound- 
ed, except one raidshipmaD. The Dominico mounts 
15 guns, one a 32 pounder, on a pivot, and had a com- 
plement of 83 men at the commencement of the ac- 
tion, 60 of whom were killed or wounded. She was 
one of the best equipped and manned vessels of her 
class I have ever seen. The Decatur mounts 7 guns^^ 
and had a complement of 103 men at the commence- 
ment of the action, nineteen of whom were killed 
and wounded. 1 have the honour to be, with great 
respect, your most obedient servant, 

JOHN H. DENT, 
Hon. "VVm. Jones^ Secretary of the Navy." 



i^jb^ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

During the combat, which lasted an hour, the 
king's packet ship, Princess Charlotte, remained 
a sllcfit *»pertH<or of the scene, and as soon as 
tl-e \essets Aveie disengaged from eac h other, 
she tacked about, ad sto(d to the southward. 
She liad saihcJ from 8t. Thomas, hound to Eng- 
land, under convoy, to a certain latitude, ol the 
BoiiiinicD. 

'I'he loss on board the Dominico consisted of 
13 kiHed and i7 wounded; five of whom mortally. 

On tlie lith of this month, (August, 1813.) 
the V. S. brig Argus was captured by the Bri- 
tish sloop ol war Pelican. The Argus sailed 
from Tiew-York, the 21st Jyne, for France, and 
arrived at Le Orient, after a passage of 23 days, 
wirere Mr. Crawford, minister from the United 
States, to the court of France, landed. F>om 
l.e t/rient, the Argus sailed, on a cruise, in the 
British channel, where she fell in with the Bri- 
tish sloop Pelican, fitted out for the purpose of 
taking the Argus. I'he action was well sup- 
ported by the Americans for 40 minutes, when 
the enemy succeeded in capturing the Argus, 
by boarding. The number of killed and wound- 
ed on board the American will best explain the 
bravery with which the ship was defended, a- 
gainst a vessel, which the British editors ac- 
knowledged to be superipr in size and arma- 
ment. Killed, on board the Argus, 2 midship- 
men, 4 seamen ; wounded, mortally, Capt. Wm. 
H. Allen, commander, 1 carpenter, 1 boatswain's 
mate, 1 seaman ; wounded, severely, Lieut. Wat- 
son, 1 quarter-master, 3 seamen, 1 carpenter's 
mate ; wounded, slightly, 8 ; total, 24. 

When Captain x\llen was removing out of the 
Argus, to be conveyed to the hospital, he ex- 
claimed — <* God Mess yoUf my lads, ive shall ne^ 
ver meet a^ain,*^ 



HJSTOllT OF THE WAK. ±49 

Tlie Argus, previous to ]ier capture, li ad ta- 
ken and destroyed 21 sail of British vessels. 

The following statement will show the force 
of the two vessels. 

t.lrgus — 16 2'i! pound earronades, 2 long 9's — . 
burthen 298 tons, 9* men fit for duty, 5 sick, 
the rest absent in prizes. 

PcUcait — 22 32 pound carronades, 2 long Q's, 
and 2 swivels — burthen 5:>i. tons, 179 men, 11 
of them volunteers for the occasion, from ships 
at Cork. 

On the 5th September, the U. S. brig Enter- 
prize, William Burrows, commander, fell in with 
H. B, M. brig Boscer, Capt. BIythe. The Bri- 
tish brig was discovered at anchor, in sliore, at 
5 o'clock, A. M. Penmaquid bearing north. 8 
miles distance. After some manoeuvring, the 
brigs approached at a quarter past 3 P. M. 
within half pistol shot of each other, when the 
action commenced. At 20 minutes past 3, the 
brave commander of the Enterprize fell, mor- 
tally wounded; while lying on the deck, he re- 
fused to be carried b low, raised his head, and 
requested " that the flag mi^ht never be siriick.** 
Thus lay the intrepid Burrows, until he learned 
the result of the action, when, clasping his 
hands, he said, *• I die conlented.^^ He was then 
taken below, and died in 8 liours afterwards — ■ 
At 4 P. M. the enemy ceased tiring, and cried 
out for quarters ; saying, that as their colours 
were nailed, they could not haul them down; — - 
a sufficient f)roofthat it was resolved never to 
yield to a Yankee crev/. Some of the crew of 
the Boxer have acknowledged, that she left port 
with a complement of 115 picked men, for the 
])urposc of takins; the Eutcrp ize ; that six men; 
were put on board a prize, and six ashore on th«! 



150 HISTORY OF THE WAE. 

island of Mnnhiggen, leaving on board, when 
the action commenced, lOi; wliicli account a- 
grees with the muster-book, found on board of 
the Boxer. The number of killed and wounded 
on board the Boxer, could not be ascertained 
with certainty, as many of the former were 
thrown overboard. The senior officer of the 
Enterprize states it, from tl»e best information 
he could obtain, at between 20 and 30 killed, and 
1* wounded, ('apt. Blytlt^, the commander of 
^hc Boxer, was among the killed. The follow- 
ing extract of a fetter fjom Capt. Hull to Com. 
Bainbridge, is too important to be oniitted. 

" I yesterday visited the two brigs, and was as* 
tonished to see the difference of injury sustained in 
tht action. The Enterfirize has but one 1 8 pound 
sliot in her bull, one in her main-mast, and one in her 
fore-mast; her sails are much cut with grape shot, 
and there are a great number of grape lotiged in her 
sides, but no injury doee by them. The Boxer has 
eighteen or twenty 18 pound shot in her hull, most 
of them at the water's tuge • several stands of >8 
pound grape stick in her side, and such a quantity 
of small grape, that I did not undert:.kH to count 
them. Ifcr masts, sails and spars, are literally cut 
to pieces, several of her fi'uns disn<ounted and un- 
fit for service ; her top-gallunt fore-castle nearly ta- 
ken off by the sliot ; her boats cut to pieces, and 
her quarters injured in proportion. To give you 
an idea of the quantity of shot about her, I inform, 
you, that I counted in her main-mast alone, three 18 
pound shot holes, I8 large grape shot ho'es 16 
musket b;:;il holes, and a large nsmber of smaller 
shot holes, and without ci.untmg above the cat h ir- 
pins. We find it impobsible to. get at the number 
killed ; no papers are found by which we can nscer- 
toin it — I, however, counted upwards of 90 ham* 
socksj which were ia her netiing wuh beds ia 



HISTORY OF THE WAR* 1^1 

ihem, besides several beds without hammocks ; — 
she has excellent accommoda ions for all her offi- 
cers below in state rooms, so that 1 have no doubt 
that she had 100 men on board. We know th-.t 
she h'\s several of the Rattler's men, and a quantity 
of wads was taken out of the Rattler, loaded with 
4 Uy"g grape shot, with a small hole in the centre^ 
to put in a cartridge, that the inside of the wad may- 
take fire when it leaves the gun. In short, she is 
in every respect completely fitted : and her accom- 
modations exceed any thing I have seen in a vessel 
ef her class.'* 

If tliere is an American who would deny the 
honour due, on this occasion, lo the American 
tars, let him read the following; from a London 
paper, and yield, however u«iwilling].y, the palm 
to the first nation in the world, the iiitherto des- 
pised citizens of the United Stages. The follow- 
ing? is a copy of the extract alluded to. 

« Among the American news, which is to be found 
in the papers just received from that country, it 
pains us to find a full confirmation of the loss of his 
majesty's bri^ Boxer, whi h has added another lau- 
rel to the naval honours of the United States. The 
vessel by which she was captured, is represented 
(falsely, we believe,) as of only equal force with her. 
self; but what we regret to perceive stated, and 
trust will be found much exaggerated, is that the 
Boxer was literally cut to pieces^ in sails riggings 
sfiars, and hull ; whilst the Enterprise (her antago- 
nist,"* noas in a situation to commence a similar action 
immediately afterwards. The fact seems to be but 
too clearly established^ that the Americans have 
lome sufierior mode of Jiring ; and we cannot be 
too anxiously employed in discoveri-g to what cir- 
cumstances 'that superiority is owing. The Boxer 
was certainly not lost for want of heroism. The 
British captain nailed his colours to the mast, and 
liappily did r-ot live to see them struck* Both cam^ 



15£ Hf§TORY OP THE WAR. 

manders died in the action, which appears to have- 
been of the most desperate kind ; and both were 
buiied at the same time, in the port to which the' 
prize was carried." 

'i'he loss on board the Enterprize, was — 1 or- 
dinary seaman killed; 1 commander, (Burrows,) 
1 midshipman, (K. Waters,) 1 carpenter's mate, 
mortally wounued ; 3 quarter- masters, 1 boat- 
swain's mate, 5 seamen, 1 marine, wounded. — 
Total 14. 

The remains of the gallant commanders, 
(Burrows and BIythe,) were buried in Portlaod, 
with military honours. Capt. Blythe, of the 
Boxer, was one of the pall-bearers at the fune- 
ral honours paid to the late Captain Lawrence, 
at Halifax. 

The following memorial was caused to be inscrib- 
ed on the monument of the gallant Lieut. Burrowsj 
of Portland, by Mr. M. L. Davis, of New-York; 

BENEATH THIS STONE 

Moulders 

THE BODY OF 

WILL I A Jl BURROWS, 

Late Commander of the 
UNITED STATES' BRIG ENTERPRIZE, 
Who was mortally wounded on the 5th of Septemberj. 
18 13, in an action, which contributed to increase 
the fame of American valour by capturing his 
BllJT. MAJESTY'S BRIG BOXER, 
after a severe contest of 45 minutes. 
A passing stranger has erected this monument of re- 
spect to the manes of a patriot, who in the hour of 
peril, obeyed the l©ud summons of an injured 
coantry, and who gallantly met, fought and con- 
quered the foeman. 

The U. S. brig Enterprize, was formerly a 
schooner, and is the same vessel with whieh 
%\&\d> Sterrett, in August, ;1801, captured with^ 



HISTORY OP TUE WAR, 15p 

out the Joss of a man, the Tripolitan ship of 
war Tripoli, of 14 guns, and 85 men, 30 ol* whom 
Were killed and wounded. 

By a resolution of Congress, the President of 
the United States was requested to present to 
the nearest male lelaiive of Lieut. ^Villiam Bur- 
rows, and to Lieut. R. M'Call, of the hrig En- 
terprize, a gold medal ; and a silver medal to 
each of the commissioned officers of said vessel. 

The President of the United States, having con- 
sidered the Boxer as equal in force to the En- 
terprize, has ordered her to be delivered up fot 
the benefit of the captors. 

Com. Rodgers arrived at Newport, the 26th 
September, in the frigate President, having 
sailed from Boston, on his third cruise, in com- 
pany with the Congress, the 30th of April pre- 
ceding. After parting company with the Con- 
gress, on the 8(h May, in Ion. 60 W. lat. 39, 
30, N. he shaped his course to the southward 
of the Grand Bank, with the view to intercept 
the enemy's West-Indii* trade; being disap- 
pointed in this quarter, he pursued a route to 
the northward, on a parallel with the eastern 
edge of the Grand Bank, so as to cross the 
tracks of the West-India, Halifax, Quebec, and 
St. John's trade. Not being successful, after 
reaching the latitude of 48 N. he steered to- 
wards the Azores, off which he continued until 
the 6th June, without meeting an enemy's ves- 
sel. From hence, he crowded sail to the N. E. 
in search of an enemy's convoy, which he learn- 
ed was seen sailing from the West-Indies, to 
England. Although disappoiated in falling in 
with tiie convoy, he nevertheless made 4 cap- 
tures, the 9th and 13th of June. This brought 
him so far to the north and east, that he le- 



154* HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

solved on going into the North Sea. He put 
into North Bergen on the 27th June, to procure 
provisions and water, not having seen any ene- 
my's vessels since the 13th. At Bergen he could 
procure only water, and departed from thence 
the 2d July, stretching over towards the Ork- 
ney-islands ; and from thence towards the 
North Cape, in search of a British convoy, that 
was to sail from Archangel, of which he ob- 
tained information from 2 vessels, which he cup- 
tured on the 13th and ISth July. In this 
object he was disappointed, by the appearance 
of 2 of the enemy's ships of war, (a line of bat- 
tle ship, and a frigate,) off the North Cape, on 
the 19th July. The President was chased by 
these 2 ships for SO hours, but effected her es- 
cape. The Commodore next proceeded to a sta- 
tion where he might intercept the trade passing 
into and out of the Irish channel. In this posi- 
tion he made 3 captures, between the 23th Ju- 
ly, and 1st August; when, fearing the great su- 
perior force of the enemy in that quarter, he 
changed his ground ; and, after taking a cir- 
cuit round Ireland, and getting into the latitude 
of Cape Clear, he steered for the Banks of New- 
foundland, near which he made 2 captures — 
From the Banks, he steered for the Unieed 
States; and, being short of provisions, was 
compelled to make the first port, into wliich he 
could safely enter. He brought in with him H. 
B. M. schr. High Fl^er, a tender to Admiral 
Warren, captured on the 23d July. He took 271 
prisoners: 216 of whom were sent home in car-» 
tels, and 55 brought home in the President. 

The movements, on the Niagara frontier, be 
gan at this time to wear a very serious aspect. 



HISTORY OY THE WAR. ^±B5 

The foMo\vinj5 address was circulated in the 
western di^^trict of the state of ^V'w-York. 

*< TO THE PATRIOTS OF THE WESTERN 
DiSiRlCT. 

« The period beini^ at hand which is to decide 
the fate of the province of Upper Canada, and the 
comnnand of the Niagara frontier having devolved 
on me, J think proper to invite the old and young 
patriots of the Western District to join my brigade 
in defence of their country and rights — any number 
not exceeding 1000, will be accepted and organized 
immediately on their arrival at Lewiston, and offi- 
cered by the choice of their men. As the move- 
ments of an army require secrecy, objects in view 
cannot be particulcirly developed ; but thosi^ who feel 
disposed to distinguish themselves, and render ser- 
vices to their country, m-y be assured that some- 
thing efficient and decisive will be done. The term 
of service will be 2 months, if not sooner discharg- 
ed : and every thing shall be done to render their 
situations as comfortable as possible. I wish none 
to volunteer who may have any constitutional objec- 
tions to cross the Niagara river: 1400 of my bri- 
gade have already volunteered to cro; s the river, 
and go wherever they may be required ; and 600 of 
them are now doing du'y at Fort George. 1 flattep 
myself that no other consi leration need be urged, 
than love of country, to excite the patriotism of the 
yeomanry of the VVestern District. 

Given at head-qu irters, Lewiston, October 2d, 
1B13. 

GEORGE M'CLURE, Brig. Gen. 
. Commanding Niagara Frontier.'* 

A considerable nujuher of patriotic volunteers 
flocked* on this occasion, to the standard of Gen. 
M'Clure. 

'The following is an extract of the general's 
letter to Governor Tompkins, of the state of 



156 HISTORY OF THE WAR* 

New-York, dated Fort George, 6th October, 
1813. 

t* We have commenced offensive operations a- 
gainst the enemy. About 50' > militiu volunteers, 
and about 150 Indians, commanded by Col. Chapin, 
attacked the picket guard of the enemy about a mile 
and an half from Fort George, and drove them in 
upon the main b<jdy, when the ei'cmy opened a fire 
from severcil fiv^ld pieces. Our men retired in good 
order into the fort, with the loss « f one man killed 
and two or three wounded. The enemy's loss was 
7 killed, man;, woundt:d, and 4 prisoners. 

<Mn a short time, ihe enemy appeared in consider- 
able force within 5 yards ot ihe fot, at the edge 
of the woods ; Chapin again sallied out with about 
300 men, and some -Indians, commenced a brisk fire 
on the whole of the enemy's I4ne, and drove them 
half a mile — but, perceiving, by the movements of 
the enemy, that they would outflank us, I ordered 
20 ) to reinforce him, and in two detachments to at- 
tack the enemy's flanks. We succeeded in driving 
the enemy into the woods, when night coming on, 
put an end to the conflut. Our loss was trifling ; 
I have not ascertained that of the enemy. Colonel 
Chapin is a brave man. Every officer and soldier 
d.d his duty." 

Col. Chapin, in a private letter, to a friend in 
Biiffaloe, thus details the brush he had with the 
ent^my. 

« Wh'le at dinner, I received information of the 
British army being in the town of Ntwark f im- 
medi tely rallied a party of 100 men, and commenc- 
ed a fire upon them, w'no returned it with much 
warmth — we kept the ground till we were rein- 
forced by 60 Indians, and 100 militia. With this 
force, we compelled the enemy to retreat, and pur- 
sued them one and a half miles, when we received 
a reinforcement of 100 men; with this force, we 
drove them half a mile further, where they covered 



HISTOUT OF THE WAR. 157 

them«!elves in a ravine, and opener] a most tremen- 
dous fire of musketry upon us. After an hour and 
a liu.f hard fighting, we drove them Irom the ravine, 
back to the batteries — it being now nearly dark, we 
returned in good order. 

*' From some deerters, and a prisoner we took, 
we learn that we had contended with tne whole Bri- 
tish army, consisting of 1 100 men, with the great 
Gen. Vincent at their hea 1 ; and that we killed 32. 
Our loss was 4, killed and wounded.'* 

Major Cha^)!?! has reet^n^ly been hi'oveHed 
lieutenant-co oiiel, in the United States' avmv. 

Gen. iM*Clure, with the New- York nuliiia, 
Tolunteers aad Indians, suceeeded in drivin^^ (lie 
British army from the vicinity ot* Fort Georij;e, 
and pursued them as far as Twelve-mile-ereek. 
Col. SeiUt. w io commanded at Port Georj^;?, 
havinj^ informed Ge i. M-CHire, tliat he was un- 
der orders to leave thai plac ^ with the regulars, 
the general was compelled to abandon his de- 
sign, and return to Fort George. 

It was General M*Clure's wish, hy the aid of 
the regular troops, to clear Upper Canada abnve 
Kingston, of the British armies, to establish a 
temporary government, secure the friendship, 
aud if necessary, the co ooeration of the inliabi- 
tants, and compel the Indians to seperate them- 
selves frosu (he enemy, or accompany theu» in 
their retreat. That this eou'd be eftected. can 
scarcely be donted, but it was nect^ssarily a'>an- 
doned in favour of a design which origin ited with 
the general government, and which, had it suc- 
ceeded, would have been moi-e important. The 
regular troops were principally drawn from the 
Niagara frontier, to cooperate witli Gen. Wil- 
kinson in his intended atta^kon Vlontreal. Gen. 
Parrison's army was also ordered to Sackett's 
o 



158 HISTOKY dF THE WAR. 

Harbour. Gen. M<Clure endeavoured to influ- 
ence Gen. Harrison to aid him in attacking ihe 
«ncmy; but the instructions from the general 
government were positive ; and Com. Chaun- 
eey had arrived with his fleet to remove the 
troops to Sackett's Harbour. The force remain- 
ing with Gen. M^CIure, was barely sufl^icient to 
defend Fort George, and entirely inadequate to 
offensive operations; and this force, which the 
general stated to be <•' ungovernable," would 
soon be reduced by the expiration of their term 
of service. 

The militia returned to their homes, with tlic 
exception of a few that were induced to remain 
beyond the term of their enlistment. The gene- 
ral finding his force i-educed to a number inade- 
quate to defend his post, and the enemy advanced 
within a few miles of him, he called a council of 
officers, and put to them the question, *• Is the 
fort tenable with the present nuniber of men?" 
They were unanimous in the opinicn, that it 
was not tenable. The arms, ammunition, and 
public stores, were immediately sent across the 
river, and, as a measure deemed recessaiy to 
the safety of the troops, the town of Newark 
was burned. " This act, (said (len. M-Chirt^,) 
however distressing to the inhabitants, and u\y 
feelings, was by oi'der of the Secretary of War, 
and I believe, at the same time, proper." I'he 
inhabitants had twelve hours notice to remove 
their efiVcts and such as chose to cross tlje river, 
were provided with all the necessaries of life. 

Capt. Leonard was left in command at Fort 
Niagara, with 1.^0 regulars; Colonel Grieves, 
with 20 men, and 'Z pieces of artillery, wss at 
Lewiston; Major Mallory, with 40 Canadian 
sniJitJa, were stationed at Schlosser; and the 



HISTORY »JF THE WAR. IdO 

general went to Buffaloc, to providt^ for the 
'jafety of that placc^ and Black iiock. 

Froni Butlaloe, General JM'CJm'c issued an 
address (o the inhabitants of tlie counties of 
Niagara, Genessee, and Cfiatague, apprizing 
them of the menaeed invasion of that frontier, 
and calling on them to repair to Lewiston^ 
Sehlosser, and Buftahie, for the purpose of de- 
fending their country and home ;\gainst a bar- 
barous enemy. This was too late to produce the 
desired effect. 

On the morning of the 19th December, about 
~% o'clock, the enemy, consisting of regulars, mi- 
litia, and Indians, to the number, by the most 
probable account, of 1500 men, crossed the Ni- 
agara river at Five-mile meadow, and advanced 
against Fort Niagara, whiih they completely 
surprised, entering it while the men were near- 
ly ail asleep, a:ul killing, without mercy or dis- 
crimination, those who eame in their way. It 
will be recollected (hat an attack on this place 
was expected, and that Captain Leonard, who 
commanded, had directioas accordingly ; yet 
General M'Clure observes, in his ofiicial des- 
patch, *< I am induced to think that the disaster 
is not attributable to any ivant of iroops, but to 
gross neglect in ihc commaiiding ojjicer of the 
fort^ Captain liConard, in not preparing, being 
ready, and looking out for the expected attack." 
It appears by another letter from Gen. M*Clure, 
<« that Captain Leonard was not in the fort at the 
time of the attack, having left it at a late hour 
the preceding evening." 

On the same morning on which Niagara was 
taken, a detachment of militia stationed at 
Lewiston, under command of Major Bcnnet, 
was attacked by a strong party of tlie enemy^ 



A60 HISTORT OF THE WAK. 

|)ut the major and his few men cut their wajr 
■with gieal bravery through several huhdreds 
©f savages iind others, hy whom they were sur- 
rr-ij Tided. 1 lie villiiges of Youngsfown, Lewis- 
t'>n, Maiuliester, the Indian Tuscarora village, 
smd all the intervening houses, were hurnt'd, 
and many of the inhubirants inhum«nly butcher- 
ed, wiihout respect to age or sex, by savages, 
headed by British Officers jjomffd. Major Mal- 
Icry, vho was statioi?ed at Sehlosser, with about 
40 Canadian militia, boldly advanced to Lewis- 
ton heights, and compelled the enemy to fall 
back to t!ie foot of the mountain ; for two days 
the !iiaj<jr coniinued to resist the advance of the 
eneiin, , disputing every inch of ground to the 
l'autawant;v creek. 
, Major- General Hall, on hearing the danger- 
ous and exposed state of the frontier, hastened 
to Oatavia ; and, on the morning of the 23d De- 
c< mber, at the request of General M'Clure, 
took the chief command of the men then assem- 
hliog to repel the enemy. Inhere was a great 
deficiency of ammunition and arms. AVith what 
could be procured, the general ccmmenoed his 
march towards Lewiston on the 25th. having 
under his command 1^0 infantry, under Lieut. 
Col. Lawrence, supported by one company of 
cavalry, under Captain Marvin, and in the ex- 
pectation to join a corps of militia, said to be 
%{}0 strong, under Lieut. Col. Atcheson, which 
was stationed 15 miles east from Lewiston, 
with instructions, if possible, to join the main 
force at Ruifaioe. On the morning of the 2(ith, 
General Hall arrived at Ruffaloe, where he found 
a considerable body of irregular troops of vari- 
ous dcscfiptions. General M'Clure was left in 
eommaud at Batavia. On the 27th the troops 



HIS-TORT OF TilE WAR. 161 

at Biiffaloe and Black Rock, were reviewed, and 
found to consist, in the aggregate, including In- 
dians, of 1711 incttj which were increased, on 
the morning of the 29th, by about 300 men, 
giving an entire force of 2011 men; but this 
force was soon reduced, by desertion, to 1200; 
and even these so deficient in ammunition, that 
a part of the i^artridges were made and distribu- 
ted after the men wore paraded for battle, on 
the morning of the 30th. 

In the evening of the 29th, at 12 o'clock, the 
horse patrole had been fired on, a short distance 
below Conjolvtie*s creek, and one mile below 
Black Rock. Tlie troops were immediately 
paraded, and stood by tlieir arras. An attempt 
was made to dislodge the enemy from the sai- 
lor's battery near Conjoktie's, of which he had 
obtained possession. The attempt failed, through 
the darkness of the night, and confusion into 
which tlie militia were thrown by the enemy's 
lire. A second body of militia, sent on the same 
service, was equally unsuccessful ; the men* 
after a short skirmish, fled in disorder. A third 
detachment Avas ordered on the same service, 
but was recalled to oppose a body of men which 
was discovered, as the day dawned, crossing the 
river. As soon as the force of the enemy was 
ascertained to be large, and commanded by 
Lieut. Col. Drummond, and th^ir posi/ion re- 
connoitred, the best possible disposition was 
made to oppose them, with a force inferior ia 
number, as it was in experience, and ammuni- 
tions of war. General Hall thus briefly details 
the eff ct : 

" The attack was commenced by a fire from our 
six pounder under lieut. Secly, below general Por«- 
ftr*5 house, and one 24 and two 12 povjnders at th^ 
o xi 



±62 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 

battery, under command of lieut. Farnum, of the 
21st U. S. Infantr* , acting as a volunteer. At the 
same time the enemy opened a heavy fire from their 
batteries on the opposite side of the river, of shells^ 
spherical and hot shot, arid ball. The regiment un- 
der command of col. Blakeslie, about 400 strongs 
were regularly in line, together with detached bo- 
dies from other corps, amounting, accordmg to the 
best estimate I can make, in all abaut 600 men. — 
These few but brave men, commenced the attack 
with niuskctry upon the enemy in their boats, and 
poured upon them a most destructive fire. Every 
inch of ground was disputed with the steady cool« 
ncss of veterans, and at the expense of maiiy valua- 
ble lives. Iheir bravery, at the same time that it 
casts a lustre over their names, reflects equal dis- 
grace on those who fled at the first appearance of 
danger — ai.d whom neuher intrettits nor threats 
Cou:<) turn ' ck lo tlie support of their comrades. 

" Perceiving tliat the Indians, on whom I had re- 
lied lor attacking the enemy's flank, were ofi'ering 
us no &ssi.-tc.iicc — und that our right was endanger- 
ed by the encniy's left, 1 g;,ve directions for the re- 
serve, under' comniand of col. M'Mahan, to attack 
the enemy in flank on our right. Bui terror had 
dissipated this corps, and but few of them could be 
rallied by their officers and brought to the attack. 
Of this corps the re are some who merit well of 
their country- — but more who covered themselves 
with disgrace. Tht defection of the Indians and of 
my reserve, and the loss of the services of the ca- 
valry and mounted men, by reason of the nature of 
the ground on which the)- must act, left the forces 
engaged exposed to the enemy's fire in front and 
flynk. After standing thnir ground for about one 
half hour, opposed to veteruns and iiighly discip- 
lined troops, overwhelmed by nunibc-s, and nearly 
surrounded, a retreat became necessary to their 
safety, w' ich was accordingly mide. 1 then made 
^very effort to rally the troops with -^ vkw to resisi?? - 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 16a 

^he attack on the enemy's columns, on their ap- 
proach to the vill ti^e of Buffdloe. But every eifort 
proved ineffectual ; and experience proves, that with 
militia a retreat becomes a flight, and a battle once 
endjdt the army is dissipated. Deserted by my 
principal force, I fell back that night to the Eleven 
mile creek, and was forced to leave the flourishing 
villages of Black Rock and Buffaloe, a prey to (he 
enemy, which they have pillaged and laid in ashes." 

General Hall retired to Eleven mile creek* 
where he collected about 300 men ; and, Avith 
these, endeavoured to cover the fleeing inhabi- 
tants, and make a show to prevent the advance 
of the enemy. 

Eiglit pieces of artillery fell into the hands of 
the enemy. About 30 men were killed, and 
somewhat more than that number wounded, in 
the defence of Black Rock. But the worst re- 
mains to be told, or rather some faint idea to be 
given of the indescribable barbarity of the enemy* 

Black Rock and Buffaloe were destroyed, to- 
gether with every building for two miles east of 
Buffaloe on the Batavia road, and almost every 
building between Bnffaloe and Niagara along the 
river. <• I'hc enemy,'* says General Hall, ** had 
^vith him at Black Rock and Buffaloe, a nurabei' 
of Indians, (the general opinion in that country 
is about 200,) who pursued their aceustomed 
mode of horrid warfare, by tomahawking, scalp- 
ing, and otherwise mutilatiitg the persons who 
fell into their hands. Among the victims of 
their savage barbarity, vvas a Mrs. Lovejoy. of 
Buffuloe, who was tomahawked, and aft^'rwards 
burnt in her own house. Tbe conduct of these 
savages has struck the minds of the peot)leon the 
[Niagara frontier with such horror, as to niake 
it absolutely necessary, tiiAt a more effioient 



1(54 HISTORY OF THE "WAK. 

force tban the ordinary militia of tlie country? 
should be employed for its protection, to pievent 
its becoming entirely depopulated." 

All the settlements of a populous country, 40 
miles square, were completely broken up, and 
12,000 persons sent as if into beggery. The 
tomahawk and bayonet deprived parents ol their 
children, and children of their parents; the sa- 
Yages white and red, who acted not merely as 
conquerors, but as murdei-ers and robbers, by a 
fell swoop, pounced upon their prey with the fe- 
rocity of the tiger, and the ail-desolating ruin of 
the locust. On the 4th January the robbers re- 
tired inio their own woods, not daring to wait 
the chastisement that was prepared for them. 

(.'onsiderable contributions of money were col- 
lected for the relief of the surviving suiferers, 
who gradually returned to view the smoking 
ruins of their late habitations. 

The enemy liaving declared their conduct on 
the Niagara frontier, to have been committed in 
retaliation for excesses said to have been com- 
mitted by the American armies in Canada, the 
eei;sure, or rather indignation of the suffering 
inhabitants were turned against Gen. M*Clure, 
who had the command. The general, previous 
to retiring from command, published an address 
to the public, in justification of his own conduct, 
in whieh he seems to have been pretty success- 
ful. M*CIure was certainly a good and zeaious 
soldier; ever ready to obey his superiors, he ex- 
acted obedience from those who were placed urt^ 
der his command ; he knew that strict discipline 
was essential to form the practical soldier ; and 
he probably suffered in the esteem of some, be» 
cause he pursued a system from which he could 
Bot depart without a crime, that might stamf? 
Jiiiii with indeliable disgrace^ 



BISTORT OF THE W4R» 16^3 

The importance of Fort Niagara, as a military 
position, is sufficiently evident, and the possibili- 
ty of preservinj* it has been unfortunately prov- 
en by an enemy, who probably would not medi- 
tate its reduction, were he not, in some mannei? 
apprized that the garrison, sufficiently strongs 
^vas not sufficiently watchfuL Had this post 
been preserved, as it mfght have been, the ruth- 
less massacre of its garrison, after resistance 
had ceased, would not have happened ; nor would 
a savage enemy have dared to attempt his hor- 
rid incursion, without the previous possession of 
ilie key to the settlements along the Niagara 
frontier. 

These observations are not merely speculative. 
The enemy had undoubtedly an early eye on the 
post at Niagara ; it may perhaps be cause of sur- 
prise to some, that it was not seized while in a 
state of ill defence, and, that its occupation by 
the enemy, was deferred to a time, when it was 
amply supplied with men, arms, and ammunition. 
This can be best explained, by a re-assertion, 
that the enemy prudently waited until he could 
find the garrison not watchful, sleeping. To the 
undaunted prowess of one of the most intrepid, 
zealous, and active officers of the army, is to be 
attributed, that the enemy had not an earlier 
possession of Niagara Fort. Captain M*Keon, 
of the artillery, in his bold and successful defence 
of this post, has signalized himself in a manner 
that had few parallels during the war, and may 
probably be ranked, because it bore strong simi- 
litude, to the brave exploit of the hero of Ldwcu 
Sandusky. I'his act of Captain jVI*Keon will be 
best explained by the followifig letter to the Se- 
cretary of War, wliieh is now published, for the 
iirst time* 



166 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

J^feiV'Yorky 6th Ju7ie, 18 IS, 

Sir— When the army was yet in its infancy, and 
but very few troops to garrison the old fort of Nia- 
gara, 1 had the honour to conninHnd at that station, a 
•ompatiy of the 3d reg. U. S. artillery ; at this time 
the enemy prepared to bombard us, and raised seve- 
ral strong batteries for the purpose. We sustained 
hitj fire for seven hours, afid had our works so much 
shattered, that our commandant Captain Leonard 
tht ught them no longer tenable : he had the guns 
spiked, and evacuated the fort. According to onSers 
1 retreated with the garrison ; but at a very short 
distance from the place, 1 solicited and obtained 
Captain Leonard's permission to return to it : at the 
moment it was the depot of an immense quantity of 
public stores, worth perhaps a million of dollars, and 
still more valuable in a military point of view ; these 
I wished at every risk to preserve. Though I pos- 
sessed entire command of all my men, 1 took back 
with me but 25 ; because from the circumstance of 
the ^uns being spiked, I could not. employ more, and 
this number was enough for the execution of my 
plan if it should succeed, and enough to lose if it 
should fail. I placed cei.tinels on the ramparts and 
at the barriers, and caused them to give the usual 
call every six minutes, through the night, so as to 
impress the enemy with a bel ef that the fortress was 
garrisoned, and the garrison vigilant : At the same 
lime four men belonging to the laboratory had port 
fires lighted and fuzees prep red to blow up the mag- 
azine and all, if the en( my could not be intimidated 
from advcincing upon us. Foi tuni.iely be was intimi- 
dated ; the fort was saved ; and the next n^orning at 
6 o'clock the garrison remrned with a reinforcement. 
On the 1 6th of October, a second order was issued 
by Gen. Akxander '^mytb, for the evacuation of this 
fort, and the public property was accordingly remov- 
ed from it to Lewiston ; but immediately I repre- 
sented to Col. Winder, that the fort was not only ten- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 167 

ai)Ie, but that I would maintain it : he was pleased to 
sanction this op nion, and thus I was, in some mea- 
sure, the cause of p eservin^ it a second time. On 
the 2 1st of Xovcmber following, the enemy bombard- 
ed our fort with the greatest fury for 13 hours ; dur- 
ing this time it was my good fortune to have been 
most assailed by hi afack and rno.i opposite to his 
position. The <oniiagration of Fort Gto-ge and 
JVewark will I trus' bear testimony to the successes 
of my efforts on that day. 

(Signed) JAS. M'KEON, 

late Capt. Art'y. 

The brave defence of Fort Niai^ara led to the 
following gairison order. 

GARRISONT ORDER. 

Fort Magara, October \5tk, 1812. 

It is with the greatest satisfaction the command- 
ing officer gives to Capt. M'Keon his fuli approbatioi) 
for his spirited and judicious conduct, during the se- 
vere cannonading from Fort George and the batte- 
ries on the opposite side the river, against this post, 
for more than seven h^jurs on the 1 3th October inst. 

To Dr. West he begs to « xpress his sincere thanks 
for the aid and assistance received from him. To 
the non-commissioned officers and privates of the 
giirrison he has only to say that they have his full 
approbation for their cool and determined courage,, 
and their zeal and activity during the day. 

N. LEONAHD, Capt. 
Commanding Fort Niagara. 

WliJie thint^s were thus progressing on land., 
the Britisli were prepjirinpj a naval i'oree for (he 
annoyame of the lilizens on the sea-board. 

Admiral Warren arrived at Halifax on the 
:.J7th September, 1812 ; and having attempted in 
vain to deeeive the Ameriean government with 
false professions of a paeifie intei-tiou, he pro- 
ceeded in January, off New-York. 



l6S HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Early in February, 1813, the Chesapeake bay 
and Delaware river were blockaded. 

The British fleet coiUinued in the bay and 
rivers connected therewitli. Their transactions, 
for the greater part, form a history of petty 
landings, wherever no considerable force eould 
be opposed to them, burning or taking every 
vessel that came within their power, plundering 
the inhabitants a(?jai ent to the waters, burning 
houses, and insulting, in the m.»st libidinous 
manner, those fen-aU s, who did not, or could not 
fly from them. The following deserve particu- 
lar rcc )rd. 

A letier, of which the following is a copy, 
was sent to Lewislown, in the state of Delaware, 
on the 16th March, 1813. 

« Sir, — As soon as jou receive this, I must re- 
ques you will send twenty live bullocks^ with a pro- 
portionuble quimtity of vegetables and hay to the 
Poictiers, for the use of his Britannic majesty's 
squadron now at this an; horac:e. which shall be im- 
mediately paid for at he Philadelphia prices. If you 
refuse to comply with this request, I shall be under 
the necessity of destroying your town. 

" I have the honour to be, Sir, your ob't. servant, 
<' J. P. BERKS iORD, Commodore, 
commandini< the British squa<)ron in 
the UiOUth of the Delaware. 
<'i The Jirst magistrate of Lewistown*'' 

The magistrate transmitted the letter to Gov- 
ernor Haslet, who sent a reply to the fjdnnral 
on the 23d, concluding in the following words : 
« I have only to observe to \ou that a compli- 
ance wou'd be an immediate violation of the 
laws of my country, ami an eternal stigma on the 
nation of which I am a cit^en. A compliance, 
therefore, cannot be accc/ded to." 



UrSTORY OF THE WAR. ±09 

On the evening of the 6(li April, (lie Belvitl ra 
and two small vessels ciunc eloso into Lc'wis, 
and cojnmeneed an attack, by firing several ,yz\h. 
shot into the town, which have been picked up; 
after which a flag was sent, to which the follow- 
ing reply was returned. 

a Sir, — In reply to the renewal of your demand, 
with the addition for a <' supply of water,'* 1 have to 
inform you that neither can be complied with. This, 
too, you must be sensible of ; therefore [ must in- 
sist the atiack on the inhabitants of this town is both 
wanton and cruel. I have the honour to be, your 
most obedient servant, 

« S. B. DAVIS, Col. Commandant." 

Another message was sent, in which the Bri- 
tish Captain Byron, among other matter, wrote, 
« I grieve for the distress of the women'* — to 
which a verb il reply was given, ** That Colonel 
Davis is a gallant man, and has already taken 
care of the ladies." 

The attack continncd till near 10 o'clock — 
The firing was kept up during the greater part 
of the following day. One of the most danger- 
ous of their gun-boats was silenced by the fire 
frotn a small battery. The enemy witlidrew on 
the 8th, after firing on TiCwis for -ZZ hours, with 
little effect, and without accomplishing his ob- 
ject. 

In their progress up the bay, the Rritish land- 
ed at Frenchtown on the Elk river, and burned 
the store-houses, destro^ving or carrying awav all 
the public and private property which they con- 
tained. 

From Frenchtown, the enemy proceeded to 
Havre-de- Grace, a flourishing little village on 
the Susquehannah, where they landed, in consi- 
derable force, on the 3d of May, and proceedeiJ 
p 



170 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

to plunder and burn with a sa\a.geness that re- 
quired but the use of the scalping knife, to out- 
rival their red allies. Twenty four of the best 
houses in the town were burned, and the others 
plundered. A small party of militia were sta- 
tioned at Havre-de-Graee, who, on the approach 
of the enemy, made a slight resistance, and then 
retreated. An Iiishman, named O'Neil, with a 
courage amounting to rashness, and an enthusi- 
asm not confined by cold loyalty, opposed his sin- 
gle arn» 1o the Bi itish host, was taken prisoner 
and carried on board the British fleet, but after- 
wards released on parole. 

His count r\ men, residing in Philadelphia, pre- 
sented the brave O'JVeil with a sword. 

From Havre-de Grace, the enemy proceeded 
further up the river, and burned the warehouse 
belonging to ^r. Stump, and a furnace belong- 
ing to Mr. Itughcs, at Prineippi. 

On ihe morning of the 4th, the enemy evacu- 
ated Havre-de-Grace, and proceeded down the 
bay. 

The next exploit of the enemy was the burn- 
ing of the unprotected villages of Frederick and 
Georgetown; the former in Cecil county, the 
latter in Kent county, opposite each other on the 
Sassafras river, in tlie state of Maryland. 

The movements of the enemy on the 20th 
June, having indTcated a design to attack Nor- 
folk, which place was then ill prepared for de- 
fence, Captain Tarbell, finding Craney Island ra- 
ther weak manned, directed Lieutenants Nealc, 
Shubrick, and Sanders, with 100 seamen, to a 
small battery at the N. W. point of the island. 
At 5 o'cloek on the morning of the 22d, the en- 
emy was disiovered landii^g round the point of 
Nansemoad river, a force, reported by deserters 



HISTORY OF THE VfAH* ^71 

and others, to exceed 3000 men ; at 8, A. M. tlm 
l)iii'g;es allenipled to iand, in front oT the island, 
an additional force of 1^00, when Lients. Neale, 
Shnhrick, and Sanders, with tlie sailors under 
their command, and the marines of the Constel- 
lation frigate, 150 in nnmber, opened a fire, 
^vhieh was so well directed, tiiat the enem^' was 
obliged to retreat to his ships. Three of his 
largest barges were sunk ; one of them, called 
the Centipede, Admiral Warren's boat, 50 fec'^c in 
length, carried 75 men, the greater part of whom 
^Ye^e lost. Several of the boats fell back, in the 
rear of the island, and commenced throwing 
rockets from Mr. Wise's houses ; but they were 
quickly compelled to move off, by the shot di- 
rected to that quarter, from gun-boat No. 67.— 
In the evening, the enemy's boats came round 
the point of Nansemond, and, at sun-set, were 
seen returning to their shi}>s, full of men. At 
dusk, they strewed the shore along with fires, h\ 
order to run away by the light. 

The British troops, that were previously land-^ 
ed, made their appearance on the main land, 
with a view to attack the west and north posi- 
tions of the island, but with no better success 
than attended the men in the boats. Two 24^ 
pounders and four 6 pounders were advantage- 
ously posted, under the direction of Major Faul- 
kener, of the artillery, whieh were so well serv- 
ed by Captain Emerson, Lieutenants Hall and 
Godwin, that they produced a serious effect on 
the enemy, who was soon compelled to retreat. 

Opposed to the large British force, there were 
but a few hundred militia and arlillei^ists ; there 
were mounted on the island not more than eight 
pieces of caqnon that could bo brought to bear 
on tlie esiemVp ** The officers of tj^e Coustella* 



JtT2 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

lion," according; to the official report of Couu 
Cassin, **iircd their 18 pounders more like rifle: 
men than artillerists.'* — 'J'his defence did jgreat 
lionour <o tlie few Americans >vLo were engaged. 
]Xorfolk \vas an important post, and the enemy 
determiued on its occupation; the force sent 
against it was laige; Admiral Cockhiirn com- 
manded in person, ar^d Avas in one of the barges, 
encouraging the men to advance. Some French 
deserters rej)orted, that a large bounty was to 
be given to the men in the event of success, and 
that it was ])romised to them, that JS^orfoIk tcould 
he ^i^iven up io he 'plundered.^' 

The loss of the enemy could not be less than 
ZOOf exclusive of several deserters; 22 prisoners 
were taken ; also abiass 3 pounder, with anum- 
i)er of small arms, pistols, cutlasses, &c. 

Not a man was lost on the side of the Ameri- 
eans ; the enemy used only Congreve rockets. 

On the 25th June, between 30 and 40 barges 
were discovered, filled with men, approaching 
the mouth of Hampton creek, from the direction 
f Ne wpoil's Noose. The A merican troops Avei-e 
quickly formed on Little-Kngland plantation, 
south w est, and divided from Hampton by a nar- 
row creek, over which a slight foot bridge had 
f)een erected. In a short time, the enemy com- 
menced landing troops in rear of the Americans. 
A little after five o'clock, A. M. several barges 
approached Black-beard's Point, the headmost of 
whicli commenced a firing of round shot, which 
was returned from a small battery of four long 
12 pounders. The entire of the force landed by 
t-he enemy, consisted of at least 2500 men, sup- 
ported by several field-pieces, and some heavy 
guns, and rockets; the American troops Avere 
4^omposed of 3ii9 infantry and rifie^ 62 artillerists, 



HlSTOItY OF THE WAIl. ±7o 

and 25 cavalry. This little force made the most 
judicious and best defence that was practicable^ 
nianoKiivring and disputinsi; every inch of ground- 
The contest was at one time very sharp, and was 
maintained with a rcsohition that left hope of re- 
pelling the invaders ; hut the enemy, being very 
numerous, attempted to outflank and cut olf the 
Americans, when part of the latter began to dls 
perse in various directions. It now became in- 
dispcnsibly neeessai'y for ail the Americans to 
retire, which they did under a continued J)ut ill- 
directed ihe, from tlie enemy, v/lio pursued thcn& 
for two miles. Tiie Americans occasionally 
stopped at a fence or ditch, and at every fire 
brought down one of the pursuing foe. 

Capt. Pryor, with his Lieutenants Lively and 
Jones, and Jiis brave, active matrosses, after 
slaughtering many of the enemy with his field 
pieces, remained on the ground till surrounded — = 
and when the enemy was within 60 or 70 yards 
of the fort, they spiked their guns, broke through 
the enemy's rear, and, by swimming a cieek> 
made good their retreat without losing a man» 
taking with them their carbines? and hiding them 
in tlie woods. 

The American loss was 7 killed, 16 wounded,, 
of w'aom 2 died of their v/ounds, 1 prisoner, and 
11 missing. The enemy took possession of the 
Tillage of Hampton, after suffering a 'oss, by the 
most probable calculation, of at least 200 men. 

Major Crutchlield, who commanded the Ame- 
ricans, states the enemy's conduct, in the fol ow- 
ing extract, from his official report : 

" To give you, sir, an idea af the savage like dis- 
position of the enemy, on their getting possessien of 
the n ighbourhood, would be a vain attempt M" 
though Sir Sidney Beck with assm-ed me> that nc>\jti»^'' 

3?vi 



IT* HISTORY or THE WARk 

<?asiness need be felt in relation to the iinfonuna<i : 
Americans ; the fact is, that yesterday there were 
several dead bodies lying unburied, and the wounded 
3101 even assisted into town, although observed to be 
tniwling through the fields towards a cold and inhos- 
pitable protection. 

" The unfortunate females of Hampton, who could 
not leave the town, were abused in the most shame- 
iul manner ; not only by the soldiers, but by the ve- 
nial siivage blacks, who were encouraged in their ex- 
ccssf s. They pillaged, and encouraged every act of 
M.pine and murder, killing a poor man by the name 
wf Kcrby, who hc\d been lying on his bed, at the point 
of death, for more than six weeks, shootii'g his wife 
in the hip at the same time, and killing his faithful 
dog, lying under his feet. The murdered Kerby 
was lying last night weltering in his bed." 

A eommiltce of CoDgvi-ss, in a report to the 
iiousc. thus notice (his transaction. 

*' The shrieks of the innocent victims of infernal 
lust at Hampton, were heard by the American pri- 
tioners, but wei e too weak to reach the ears or dis« 
iuib the repose of the British officers, whose duty, 
v.s men, required them to protect every female whom 
ihc fortune of war had thrown into their power. 
The committee will not dwell on this hateful sub- 
ject. Human language affords no terms strong 
enough to express the emotions which the exami- 
nation cf this evidence has awakened ; they rejoice 
that these acts have appeared so incredible to the 
American people. And, for the honor of human na- 
ture, they deeply regret, that the evidences so clearly 
tjstabli?h their truth. In the correspondence be- 
tween the commander of the American and British 
forces, will be found what is equivalent to an admis* 
sion of the facts by the British commander.'* 

The enemy soon e^acl]afetl Hampton, and re- 
r^reated to liis shipping, to avoid the punishment^ 
vvhich. bad Uc remained; ^voiild have soon beeia 



HISTOKY OF THE AVAK. ±7 

inflicted. The following extract of a letter from 
Capt. Cooper, to the lieutenant governer of Vir- 
ginia, is proof of shocking harbaritj which would 
disgrace the savage of the wilderness. 

t« I was j^esterday in Hampton with my troop 

tliat place having been evacuated in the morning by 
the British. My blood ran cold at what I saw and 
iieard. The few distressed inhabitants running up, 
in every direction to congratulate us ; tears were 
shedding in every corner — the infamous spoundrels, 
monsters, destroyed every thing but the houses, and, 
(my pen is almost unwilling to describe it) the wo- 
men were ravished by the abandoned ruffians. — Great 
God ! My dear friend, can you figure to yourself 
our Hampton females, seized and treated with vio- 
lence by those monsters, and not a solitary American 
arm present to avenge their wrongs I But enough — 
I can no more of this. The enemy have received a 
reinforcement ef 2000 — in all, 6000 men ; and Nor- 
folk or Richmond is their immediate aim. Protect 
yourselves from fuch scenes as we have witnessed. 
They retired in gi*eat confusion, leaving 3000 weight 
of beef, some muskets, ammunition, canteens, &c. 
and some of their men, which we took. It is sup- 
posed that they apprehended an immediate attack 
from 6000 of our men, which caused them to retreat 
so precipitately. My friend, rest assuredl of one 
thing — that they cannot conquer Americans — they 
cannot stand them, If we had had 1200 men, we 
should have killed or taken the greater part of them.'* 

In further proof of these enoi-niities, the foU 
lowing extract is given, from the letter of a gen- 
tleman of great respectability. 

" At present you must content yourself with the 
following, and believe it as religiously as any fack 
beyond denial, Mrs. TurnbuU was pursued up to 
her waist in the water, and dragged on shore by ten 
fer twelve of these ru^iis, whq satiatecl their brutal. 



176 HISTORY OF THE WABf. 

desires upon her, after pulling off her clothes, stock- 
ings, shoes, &c. This fact was seen by jour ne- 
phew, Keith, and many others. Another case — a 
nrarried women, her name unknown to mc, with her 
infant child in her arms, (the child forcrbly dragged 
from her,) shared the same fate. Two young wo- 
men, well known to many, whose names will not 
be revealed at this time, suffered in like manner.— 
Dr. Colton, Parson Halson, and Mrs. Hopkins, have 
informed me of these particulars — another,, in the 
presence of Mr. Hope, had her gown cut off with 
a sword, and violence offered in his presence, which 
he endeavoured to prevent, but had to quit the room, 
leaving the unfortunate victim in their possession, 
who, no doubt, was abused in the same way. 

" Old Mr. Hope himself was stripped naked, 
pricked with a bayonet in the arm, and slapt in the 
face — and were I to mention a hundred cases in ad- 
dition to the above, 1 do not know that I should ex- 
aggerate." 

Admiral Cockburn is the redoubtable hera, 
who commanded the enemy in the manly attack 
on Hampton.* 

On the 20th June, three of the enemy's barges 
attempted to enter Pagan creek, but were re- 
sisted by a detachment of militia ; and after ex- 
ebanging li shots, without effect on either side^ 
the enemy retired. 

The enemy had such a total command of the 
waters of the Chesapeake, and the rivers fallirig 
into it, wherever the same were without the 

* James O^Boyle, an Irishman, residing at Pugh» 
town, in Virginia, offered a reward of 1,000 dollars, 
for the head of " the notorious incendiary, and in- 
famous scoundrel, and violator of all laws, human 
and divine, the British admiral; Cockburnj*' or 500 
d.allsurs for each of his ears> 



HISTOlRY OF THE WAR. 177 

i^aiige of shot from the shore ; and his move- 
ments weie so various, that a general alarm was 
excited in the neighhourhood of these waters ; 
the troops were necessarily kept embodied, and 
moving in a manner, which occasioned distres- 
sing and harrassing difficulties. The fate of 
the females at Hanjpton excited an indignation, 
and roused a patriotism and a love of family 
kindred, which stilled all complaints among the 
liarrasscd soldiery of Virginia and Maryland. — 
** Hampton" was a watch- woid, at which every 
husband, father, brother, and man, took his gun 
and lied with willingness, to meet the ruffians, 
who threatened, with worse than murder, the 
fair daughters of America. 

It would scarcely be interesting to detail every 
petty landing, skirmish nnd adventure, that oc- 
curred, while the enemy remained in the Chesa- 
peake — the most conspicuous of them will^ how- 
ever, be noticed. 

A party of the enemy landed a little below 
James-Town, on the 2d July, but were repulsed 
by the militia. Two of the enemy A\ ere killed, 
two taken, and several wounded. I'he militia 
suffered no loss. 

On the 14th July, the U. S. schooner Asp, 
was attacked in Yocimo river, by the crews of 
two brigs, who put off in their boats, for that pur- 
pose. The boats, 3 in number, were beaten off 
by the well directed fire from the Asp; about 
an hour after, the boats returned, with two 
other boats, well manned. There were but 21 
men on board the Asp, and they could not ef- 
fectually resist the great force sent against 
them : they, however, defended themselves ob- 
stinately and bravely ; nor did they retreat until 
after the Asp was boarded by more than bQ of 



178 HISTORY OF THE WAR.. 

the enemy. The enemy set the vessel on fire. 
After their retreat, the survivors ofthehrave 
Ameriean crew, went on hoard and extinguished 
the ihimes. The American loss in killed and 
wounded, amounted to 10 men. Mr. Sigourney, 
the intrepid commander of the Asp, was among 
the killed. 

home essays, puhlished hy the late Robert 
Fulton, on the practicability of destroying ships 
by torpedoesf induced several persons to turn 
their thoughts to this subject. A Mr. Mix, of 
the navy, accompanied by Captain Bowman, of 
Salem, and Midshipman M*Gowan, essayed to 
destroy the ship of war Planiagenet, of 7* 
guns, lying in Lynnhaveri bay. For this pur- 
pose, they proceeded in a boat, in the night of 
the 24th July, 1813, and having reached within 
100 yards of the ship, dropped the torpedo. It 
was swept along by the tide, but exploded a few 
seconds before ii would have come in contact with 
the vessel. It produced ^reat consternation and 
confusion on board the vessel, and induced seve- 
ral of the crew to take to their boats, I'he 
ship was greatly agitated, and some damage 
done by the violent motion of the water. 'I'he 
noise, occasioned by the explosion, uas loud and 
tremendous; and the appearance of the water, 
thrown up in a column of 30 or 40 feet high, 
awfully sublime. It has not been ascertained 
that any lives were lost. 

The fleet, under c(»mmand of Admiral Cock- 
burn, returned to the Chesapeake on the 16th 
July, after an invasion of North-Carolina, where 
the country was pillaged and laid waste by the 
enemy, for several miles. On the 12th. a part 
of this fleet, consisting of two 74's, 3 frigates, 
and 3t schoQners, appeared off Ocracock bar,. 



HISTORY or THE WAK. 179 

in North- Carolina, and immediately despatched, 
in boats, between 700 and 800 men, who attack- 
ed the privateer Anacoada, and schooner Atlas, 
lying inside the bar. There Avcre hut 18 men on 
board the Anaconda, who resisted tiie boats as 
long as they could, until finding that the vessel 
must be tat^en, they discharged the guns into the 
huil ; but the enemy boarded her in time to pUig 
the holes. Tlie Atlas, and some small (,Tart, 
>vere captured. The enemy took possession of 
Ocracock, and the town of Portsmouth, with- 
out opposition. 

Mrs, Gaston, of Newburn, wife of the mem- 
ber of CoiJgress, being told that the British had 
lauded, and would shortly be in possession of 
Newburn, fell into convulsive fits, and expired 
in a few hours. Mrs. Curtis died in a similar 
manner, and a Mrs. Shepherd was at the point 
of death, but has I'ecovered. Apprehensions of 
being treated like the unfortunate females of 
Hampton, it is supposed, produced this extraor- 
dinary degree of terror. A large b;)dy of mili- 
tia and volunteers were assembled in the vicin- 
ity of Portsmouth, and on the point of attack- 
ing the enemy, when he thought prudent to re- 
tire. 

Lieut. Angus, commanding the Delaware flo- 
tilla, having discovered, on the 27th July, that 
the enemy had chased and taken a small vessel, 
near the Overfalls, got under way, and stood 
for the enemy. At the distance of about three 
quarters of a mile, he brought the enemy's sloop 
of war to action, having anchored for that pur- 
pose, 8 gun-boats, and 2 block ships, in a line 
aliead. A heavy Hritish frigate, liad, by this 
time, anchored about half a mile further out. — 
Aftei" a cannonade of one hour and 45 minutes. 



180 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

in wliicli the enemy received several shot, with- 
out any material damage heing done to the flotilla, 
he manned his boats, 10 in number, (2 launches, 
the rest large barges and cutters.) uit!i beiweeii 
30 and 40 men in each, and despatched them af- 
ter gun boat No. 121, sailing-master Shead, 
which had fallen a mile and a halt* out of the 
line, and succeeded in capturing her, afler a gal- 
lant resistance. The enemy would have been 
totaUy defeated, had he not been favoured by a 
ealm, which enabled him to carry off the gun- 
hoat No. 121, the colours of which were not 
struck until after being boarded. The sound of 
cannon, on this occasion, was heard at the city of 
Washington, a distance of 120 mi;es. 

Sailing master Shead concludes his official re- 
port hi the following words : 

*< I found it necessary, for the preservation of those 
few valuable lives left, to surrender to seven times 
our number ; the enemy boarding, loaded our decks 
with men ; we were all driven below, and it was with 
the utmost difficulty that the office's could stay the 
revenge of the seamen, who seemed to*thirst for 
blood and plunder, the last of which they had. by rob- 
bini^ us of every thing ; we had none killed, but 7 
wounded, 5 slightly. The enemy's loss by us, -was 
7 killed, and 12 wounded, 4 of which have since 
died. They have conquered me, but they have paid 
dearly for it ; and I trust, Sir, when y( u corns to view 
the disadvantages that I laboured under, having been 
but 7 days on bo?)rd my boat, and scarcely time to 
station my men, and the misfortune of entirely dis- 
abling my gun, and the superiority of numbers to 
oppose me, you will be convinced that the flag I had 
the honour to wear, has not lost any of that national 
character which has ever been attached to it.'* 

It is painful to the historian, tl at while he rc- 
<it)i'ds the many instances of virtuous patriotism^ 



HISTORY or THE WAR. 181 

and glorious prowess, which sij^nalized the citi- 
zens and inhabitants of the United States, it be*- 
conies also his diify to recj>rd their crimes and 
treasons. Much consolation is, however, deriv- 
ed from the reflection, that patriotism was the 
prevailing sentiment of a great majority of the 
P'ople. The following geiieral order was pub- 
iished, and dated iVom liie navy department, at 
the city of Washington, and sent, as a circular, 
to the commanding officers of stations, or ves- 
sels of the navy of the United States. 

" The palpable and criminal intercourse held with 
the enemy's forces, blockading and invading the wa- 
ters and shores of the U. States, is, in a military view, 
an offence of so deep a die, as to call for the vigilant 
interposition of all the naval officers of the United 
States. 

" This intercourse is not only carried on by fo- 
reigners, under the specious garb of friendly flags, 
who convey provisions, water, and succours of all 
kinds, (ostensibly destined for friendly ports, in the 
face, too, of a declared and rigorous blockade,) di- 
rect to the fleets and stations of the enemy, with con- 
stant intelligence of our naval and military force and 
preparation, and the means of continuing and con- 
ducting the invasion to the greatest possible anioy*- 
ance of the country ; but the same traffic, intercourse,, 
and intelligence, is carried on with great subtilty 
and treachery, by profligate citizens, who, in vessels 
ostensibly navigati'g our waters, from port to port, 
under cover of night, or other circumstawces favour- 
ing their turpitude, find means to convt^y succours or 
intelligence to thp enemy, and elude the penalty of 
the law. This lawless trade and intercourse is also 
carried on to a great extent, in craft, whose capacity 
exempts thero from the regulations of *he revenue 
laws, and from the vigilence which vessels of greatef 
Capacity attract. 



182 HISTOKY OF THE WAR. 

« T am therefore qomiPanded by the President of 
the United States, to tnjoin and direct all Da\al com- 
manding officers, to exercise the strictest vigilence, 
and to stop or deti-in all vessels or craft, whatsoever, 
proceeding, or apparently intending to proceed, to- 
wards the enemy's ve sels with-n the waters, or hov- 
ering about tlie harbours of the Un ted States ; or 
towards any station occr>pied by the enemy, within 
the juri diet on oi the United States, from which 
vessels or craft the enemy might derive succours or 
intelligence* 

W. JONES." 

The enemy, the better to carry his proj«'Cts in 
the Chesapeake into execution, took possession of 
Kent-island, and foitified tlie narrows; which 
station he, however, soon afterward deserted. 
On tlie ±'H\\ Au.j^ust, he made an attack on St. 
]\1ic!;ae!, with 11 barges, whieh went up the 
river on the opposite side, and came down on the 
side of St. Michael, with so littie noise, tliat they 
^vere not perceived piissing up or down tlie river ; 
Sintl as it was very cloudy, and the nicn in the 
fort, without suspicion of attack, the eneniy 
landed before they were discovered. I'he men 
fired two guns and left the fort, of which the en- 
emy immediately took possession, and gave three 
cheers, supposing they wouhl have St. Michael 
wifl'out muoli difficulty ; but they were very 
Buich mistaken, for the St. Michael's people, and 
Capt. Vi kers. of the Easton packet, with the 
artillery frotn Easton, attacked them so briskly, 
and pointed their guns with so much judgment, 
that our invaders were soon obliged to make off-— 
the infantry were not engaged. Not a man of 
the Amerii^a »s was hurt. although the grape shot 
jRew like hail in the <? wn, and their baUs went 
through a number of the houses. The twft 



HISTOKY OF THE WAK, ±S^^ 

shots that were fired from the fort must have 
done some execution, as a quantity of blood was 
seen oa the shore, and two swurds and a pistol 
were left beliind, and their barges were seen ta 
be struck by the artillery from the town. 

On the nio:ning of the 14th August, at four 
o'clock, the enemy attacked Queenstown, in 
Queen Anne county, both by land and water; — 
about 600 troops were landed and marched up 
to the town, and 20 armed bii'ges made the at- 
tack by water — -the attack was so unexpected, 
that but little resistance was raade — a picket 
guard of the American militia were fired on by 
the enemy, 1 of them was killed, and 2 or S 
wounded — the militia retreated to Centreville,. 
and left the enemy in possession of the town. 

AVere the enemy to confine himself to the cap-^ 
tu ring of vessels and their cargoes, and the de- 
struction of public property, he> would be justi- 
fiable ; but it is due to truth, not to conceal, that^ 
departing from all established rules of warfare, 
he not only carried off private property, when- 
ever he cou!d seize it, but also destroyed what- 
ever he could reach, and could not remove. Om 
the 2d November, he landed on George's island^ 
and burned all tlic buildings on it, he decoyed a 
great number of negroes, witli a promise to 
make them free — and afterwards shipped these 
wretches to the West-Indies, where (hey wercs 
sold as slavss^for the heiiefd of British officers. 
The following device was practiced with success* 

A party of militia, (17 in number,) stationed 
thciiiselves behind the Sand-hills, while two white 
men, with their faces and hands blacked, went 
down upon the beach, and waved their hand- 
kerchiefs to the ships, when a boat, with six men,, 
fern mediately came ashore, followed, at somfi 



184 HISTORY 0¥ THE WAK. 

distance, hy two others, full of men. Just as the 
itjen from the first boat were preparing to land, 
©ne of those disguised, in walking a few steps, 
showed his bare ancles, which he omitted to 
^keken, when the enemy exclaimed — *• White 

men in disguise^ by ; let lis push off T^ — 

'wiiich they did, and, at the same moment, the 
militia ran out and fired upon them, until they 
^\erc out of gun-shot 5* they killed two out of the 
six.. 

It would be impossible, in the compass allot- 
ted to this work, to do justice to the enemy :— . 
his barbarous and plundering conduct in the 
Chesapeake, and adjoining rivers, can only be 
equalled by the conduct of the same enemy in a 
former war. *' The species of warfare," says 
the editor of a Norfolk paper, ** waged by Cap- 
tain Llo^d of the Plantagenet, on the inhabi- 
tants cf Princess Anne county, is of that pitiful 
and dishonourable kind, which cannot fail to at- 
tach a lasting stigma to his character, and cause 
his name to descend to oblivion, coupled with 
that of the infamous Bmimore, and clogged with 
the bitter execrations of all who shall hear the 
tale of his rapacity .'^^ 

The Norfolk Herald thus ably and humanely 
notices the seizing and carrying oif negroes. 

" To take cattle or other stock, would be consis- 
tent with the usage of civilized warfare ; but to take 
ISegroes, who are human beings ; to tear them for- 
ever from their kindred and connexions is what we 
should never expect from a Christian nation, espe- 
cially one that has done so much to abolish the 
« slave trade." There are Negroes in Virginia, 
and we believe in all the southern states, who huve 
their interests and affections as st.ongly engr?ftrd 
in their hearts, as the whites, and who feel the sacred 



HlSTOKY OF TH'E WAR, iSS 

des of filial, parental, and conjugal affection, equally 
strong, and who are warmly attached to their owners, 
and the scenes of their nativity. To those, no in- 
ducement, which the enemy could offer, would be 
sufficient to tempt them away. To drag them a- 
way, then, by force, would be the greatest cruelty. 
Yes, it is reserved for England, who boasts of her re- 
ligion, and love of humanity, to practice this piece of 
cruelty, so repugnant to the dictates of Christianity 
and civilization.** 

The great vigilance and activity of the eiti- 
zens, tended not only to disappoint, but frequent^ 
ly to punish the marauders. 

On the Itth September, about lb men volun- 
teered from a miii!ia company, stationed near 
the inlet, at Norfolk, to go and attack a party of 
the British, who were said to be on shore at the 
Cape. When they came to the Cape, and wei*e 
mounting one of t!ie sand bills, they found them- 
selves in full view, and within musket-shot of a 
large body of marines, who were exercising. A 
cluster of officers were standing some distance 
off, between their main body and our militia — the 
latter had not a moment to spare ; they took de- 
liberate aim at the offjcers and lired ; four of 
them fell ! The militia then made the best of 
their way back to camp, while the enemy's sliot 
whistled over their heads isi ail directions, but 
"without effect. 

The proceedings of the enemy along the eo^ast, 
east of the Delaware, were not generally impor- 
tant. 

The frigate United Slates, Com. Decatur; 
frigate Macedonian, Capt. Jones; and sloop of 
Avar Hornet, Capt. Biddle, on the 2Uh May, got 
under way front New York, with an intention of 
^Eoieeding to sea through the Sound. Wlien 



186 HISTORY OF THE WAH, 

off nunl's Point the mainmast of the United 
States was struck with lightning, Avhich tore 
away the Commodore's broad pendant, and 
brought it down on deck, passed into one of the 
port-holes, down the vifter hatchway, through 
the >vard room into the doctor's room, put out 
his candle, tore up his bed, and then passed be- 
tween the skin and ceiling of the ship, and tore 
up about 20 nails of her copper at water's edge, 
^o further trace of it could be discovered. 1 he 
Macedonian was about 100 yards asteinof the 
Ignited States, and on observing the lightning 
strike her, inniiediately hove her topsails aback, 
fearing that the fire uiight find its way to the 
magazine. 

On the 1st of June, the vessels attempted to 
put to sea, but were -chased into New-London by 
a British fone, consisting of a 74, a razee, and 
a frigate. The blockade of New- London was 
liMmediately formed; and the inhabitants very 
lijghly alarmed lest tf»e town would be attacked. 

On the 2ist June, the British i>rivateer Buck- 
skin, (formerly belonging to Salem,) chased a 
coaster into Owl Head Narrows, (a small har- 
bour in IVIassachusetts,) where five others were 
lying, the whole of which were captured and re- 
moved down inio what is called the Thorough- 
fare, preparatoi'y to being manned out. and they 
Ibf'Ecai unlading one of the sl<^ops, into which 
they intended to put the prisoners. During this 
time, from 2 to 300 m'istia collected, and pro- 
ceeded down to Fox Lland, it being thick foggy 
weather, when at 1-4 past 3, on the morning of 
the 22d, tl;e fog clearing away, the privateer ap- 
pear* d at anchor about 20 rods from the shore, 
wherp they ivminewa] firi g upon her with 
Mii'Axi iHMiS, aiid i*ac field piece> which killed the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 187 

ppivateersmen almost as fast as they came on 
deck. The 1st lieutenant cut the cable, and in 
attempting to hoist the jil), (lying flat on his 
back,) liad his under jaw shot avvaj ; the captain 
was killed ; and but 9 men, it is said, remained 
unhurt, the rest being either killed or wounded. 
It being ebb tide, she drifted out, and when out 
of the reach of the musketry, got under way, 
leaving all her prizes, which again fell into the 
hands of the rightful owners. The crews put ia 
to man them, in attempting to escape to the pri- 
vateer in boats, were either killed or wounded^ 
The action lasted an hour. 

On the 23(1 June, two barges, containing each 
about 15 men, from the blockading squadron off 
New-London, attempted to land near the light- 
house, but on observing a company of artillery 
near the shore, pulled off as fast as possible. 
AVhen the enemy imagined themselves out of 
danger, they stood in the barges and cheered. 
At this moment a shot was tired from the ar- 
tillery, which struck one of the boats, and killed 
or wounded eight or ten of the men in it. 

A Mr. Scudder formed a design of destroying 
the British ship JRamilies, of 7i guns, off New- 
London. For this purpose ten kegs of powder 
were put into a strong cask, with a quantity of 
sulphur mixed into it. At the head of the cask 
was fixed two gun-locks, with cords f^istened to 
the triggers, and to the under side of the barrels 
in the hatchway, so that it was impossible to 
hoist the barrels without spri«ging the locks 
each side of the powder — and on the top was 
placed a quantity of turpentine, and spirits of 
turpentine, which in all probability was sufficient 
to have destroyed any vessel that ever floated 
on tlie watei> if she could have been got along 



188 HISTORY OF THE WAB. 

side, Avlnch was the object in \iew. These kega 
were put on board the smack Eagle, which 
sailed from New-York on the IBih June, for 
New-London, but which (he crew abandoned, on 
being pursued by (he boa(s of the enemy. It 
was expected that the vessel would be brought 
along side the Hamilies ; and, by exploding, 
would destroy that ship. The wind dying away, 
and the tide being against them, she could not 
be brought along side. When the Kagle ex- 
ploded, there were four boats along side, and a 
great many men on board her. After the ex- 
plosion, there was not a vestige of the boats to 
be seen ; the body of fire rose to a vast height, 
and then burst like a rocket. Every man near 
or about her were probably lost, as the boats 
sent from (he Ramilies were seen to return with- 
out picking up any thing. 

On (he 10th June, three barges belongmg to 
the blockading squadron, after capturing somo 
sloops at the mouth of Connecticut river, at- 
tempted to land at Saybrook, but were beaten off 
by the militia. The enemy had three men killed 
on this occasion. 'Jlie militia escaped unhurt. 

On the 2ith July, a 1st and Sd lieutenant, a 
sailing-master, and five men, belonging (o the Ra- 
milies, were surprised and taken on Gardner's 
Island, by a party of the crew of the United 
States, despatched for the purpose, by Com. De- 
eatur. The prisoners were parolledj and, be* 
ing at liberty, were joined by others of (heir 
erew, when they found themselves sufficiently 
strong to seize and carry off the American boat. 
There was an. attempt also made to intercept 
the American party, but they escaped in a whale- 
boat to Sag*Harho«5i% from whence they retuiJ!*- 
€d ixL safety, to Ne w -Loudon* 



HISTOKY OF THE >VAB. 189 

Shortly after this transaction, Mr. Joshua 
Vennv, of Eusihanipton, Long-Island, was ta- 
ken out of his bed during the night, by a party 
iVotn the enemy's ship, and, being brought on 
board the Raulilies, was put in irons. Major 
Case, commanding the troops of the U. States 
at Saq-Harhour, demanded his release as a non- 
eombatant ; but the British otlieer, Capt. Hardy, 
declined, on the ground that he was a conibat- 
ant— that he conducted a party of seamen Irom 
New-London to Gardner's Island, there to sur- 
prise and take several British officers-that his 
name had been entered on the books o one ot 
the frigates, and that he had been ** ewp oi/ed in 
a boat' contrwcd for the j)urposc. under the com- 
mand of Thomas Welling, prepared with alor- 
pcdo, to destroy t/n'sCCapt. Hardy's) ship^ Ihis 
last crime was undoubtedly that >vhieh led to 
the capture and severe treatment of Mr. Fenny. 
He was treated with great severity while on 
board the Ramilies, from which vesse he was 
sent to Halifax, where he was treated like other 
prisoners. He was sent to Salem in a cartel 
shin, in Mav, 1814, and probably owed not only 
his liberation, but his life, to the circumstance 
that the President of the United States ordered 
two British subjects to be held as hostages tor 
the safety of Mr. Penny. 

The New-London blockading squadron came, 
on the 8th September, by the Sound, to a place 
about 20 miles from the city of New-York, cap- 
tured 20 coasters, took a quantity of sheep Irom 
the main, and had probaldy other robberies or 
iniuries in view. Com. Lewis, on receiving in- 
formation of the enemy's movement, proc^^'d^a 
up the Sound, with 25 ejun-boats. By 9 o'clock 
on the 9th, he was at Saiids's Point, wUlnn 10 



190 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

tniles of the enemy. A British frigate and a 
sloop of war got under way and stood toward 
them. At one o'clock, P. M. the commodore 
brought his flotilla to anchor in Hempstead hay, 
ready to receive the enemy. The British ex- 
changed 10 or 15 shots at too great a distance to 
produce any effect, and then stood to the east- 
ward, and were soon out of sight. The flotilla 
returned to its former station. 

On the 5th July, the British tender Eagle, 
which had been employed by Com. Beresford, 
for the purpose of burning coasters, &c. was ta- 
ken by a coup de main, Tlie smack Yankee was 
borrowed for this purpose. Sailing-master Per- 
ceival went on board, and concealed 30 men in 
the hold, he tied a calf, a sheep, and a goose on 
dedik, and, thus prepared, he stood out of Mus- 
quito Cove ; three men appeared on deck. The 
Eagle, on perceiving the smack, immediately 
giive chase, and after coming up with her, and 
finding she had live stock on deck, ordered her 
to go down to the commodore, then about five 
miles distant. The helmsman of the smack an- 
swered ** aye, aye, sir," and apparently put up 
the helm for that purpose, which brought him 
along side the Eagle, not more than three yards 
distant. The watch- word, Lawrence, was then 
given, when the armed men •rushed on deck 
from their hiding places, and poured into her a 
volley of musketry, which struck her crew -with 
dismay, and drove them down so precipitately 
into the h«ld of the vessel, that the;y had not 
tinie to strike their colours, bleeirsg the enemy's 
d-ck clear. Sibling- master Pereeival, who com- 
manded the expedition, ord^r^ d his men to cease 
firing — npon which am- of the enemy came out 
of the h'jld and struck the colours of the EagleV 



UISTORT OF THE WAR. 4 91 

aiie had on boaid a 32 pound brass liowitzer, 
loaded with cannistcp sliot ; bii( so sudden was 
the surprise, they had not time to discharge it. 
The crew of the Eagle consisted of 11. Morris, 
master's mate of the Poietiers. AV. Price, inid- 
siii])nian, and 11 seamen and nrarines. Mr. Mor- 
ris was killed, Mr. Price mortality wouudtd, and 
one marine killed and one \>ou!i(!ed. 'J'he Eagle, 
with the prisoners, arrived off liic Batterv in the 
afternoon, and landed the pris< ners ai Whitehall, 
amidst the shouts and plaudits of thous..? ds of 
spectators, assembhd o i the Battery, celebrat- 
ing the anniversary of our 8nde >endertce. 

A detachment from «he gim boat flotilla neap 
Sandy Hook, most gcillaatly b aJ off about 100 
of the crew of the Planiagenet, whi h drove 
ashore and boarded the schooner Sja«row. of 
Baltimore, the 3d November, n< a* Lojjg Branch. 
The cargo, together with sails, rigging, &c. were 
saved ; the vessel bilged. 

The following copy of a letter from lieuten- 
ant Nicholson, commanding ihe gun-boats at 
Newport, announced the <apture of the armed 
British slooib Hart, o<i the jth October. 

" Sir — I have the pleasure to inform you of the 
^aptu e of the British armed sloop " Dart,* by the 
revenue cutter of tnis place, l:^st evf-ning She ap- 
peared off the harbour before sun-set ; the captain of 
the cutter offered liis services to go out ; 1 put on 
board three sailing-masters and about 20 n^en ; she 
immedi t ly made s;ul and laid aboard the Dart, and 
carried her by boarding ; her firs: officer was killed ; 
2 of our own men were wounded slightly. } he pri- 
soners I send for your disposal. Very respectfully, 
^our most obedient humble servant, 

"JOHN NICHOLSON. 

« Com. John Badgers^ U. S, 
frigate I resident** 



192 HISTORY or THB WAR. 

The British Admiral Warren issued a procla- 
niation on the I6th November, declaring Long- 
Ishmd Sound in a state of rigorous blockade. 
This was an extension or explanation of a for- 
mer proclamation of the 24th September, by 
which the ports and harbours of New-York, 
i harleston, Port Royal, Savannah, and the rivef 
Missisippi were declared in a state of strict arid 
rigorous blockade. 

A proclamation was issued by the governor of 
Verr.iont on the lOth of Novomlier, 1813, the 
ol^ject of which was to call home from the ser- 
vice of the'United States a portion oi the rr^iliua 
wfjlch had been then serving in the state of f^ew- 
Y*jrk. Brigadier General Davis repairtd to the 
army, and demanded a eontplianee with the or- 
ders of his excellency ; but obedience was re- 
fused, and the general was arrested, 

A reply to the proclamation was drawn up at 
PI ttsburgh the 15th November, -cind directed ta 
his excellency, signed by all the officers of the 
Verihont militia then there. The reply con- 
tained, among other matter, the following de- 
cided and unequivocal expressions: 

*< We consider jour proclamation as a gross insult 
to the officers and soldiers in service, inasmuch as it 
implies that they are so ignorant of their rights as to 
believe > ou have authority to command them in their 
present situation, or so abandoned as to follow your 
insidious advice. We cannot regard your procldma- 
tion in any other light, than as an unwarrantable 
stretch of executive authority, issued from the worst 
of motives, to effect the bnst;st purposes It is in 
our opinion, a renewed instance of that spirit of dis- 
organizaUon and anarchy which is carried on by a fac- 
tion, to overwhelm our country with ruin and dis- 
grace. We cannot perceive what other object your 



HISTOKY OF THE WAR. 193 

excellency could have ia view than to embarrass the 
operations of the armyj^to excite mutiny and sedition 
among the soldiers, and lo induce them to desert, that 
they might foifeit the wages to which they are enti- 
tled for their patriotic services." 

A iDOst positive proof of that actual treason, 
which lurked under the shade of an ill timed o,)- 
position to the measures of the general govern- 
ment, was, soon afterward, discovered, near 
New- London, as will he best explained by the 
following communication from Com. Decatur to 
the ^^ecretary of the Navy, dated at New-Lon- 
don, Dec^^mbir zOth, 1813 : 

" Some few nights since, the weather promised an 
opportunity for this squadron to get to sea, and it 
was said on shore that we intended to make the at- 
tempt- In the course of the evening two blue lights 
were burnt on both the points at the harbour's mouth 
as signals to the enemy, and there is not a doubi, but 
that they have by signals and otherwise, instantaneous 
information of our movements. Great but unsuc- 
cessful exertions have been made to detect those who 
communicate with the enemy by signal. The editor 
of the New-London Gazette, to alarm them, and in 
hope to prevent the repetition of these signals, sta- 
ted in that newspaper, that they had been observed, 
and ventured to denounce those who had made them 
in animated and indignant terms. The consequence 
is, that he has incurred the express censure of some 
of his neighbours. Notwithstanding these signals 
have been repeated and have been seen by 20 persons 
at least in this squadron, there are men in New-Lon- 
don who have the hardihood lo affect to disbelieve 
it, and the effrontery to avow their disbelief." 

The U, S. frigate Congress, Capt. Smith, ar- 
rived at Portsmouth in December, after a cruise 
of nearlv eight months. During her cruise, she 
got sight of ao enemy's line ef battle ship, with a. 



194 HISTOKV OF THE WAH. 

frigate in company. She captured and destroy^ 
ed one ship and one brig ; and sent another cap- 
tured brig as a cartel to the West-Indies. It will 
be recollected that the Congress sailed from 
Newport in April, in company with the Presi- 
dent and parted company the Sih May. 

The hostile attidude of the Indians, and the 
battle with them at 'i ippacanoe, previous to the 
war, excited alarm, and caused an enquiry into 
its cause. A committee of congress, en that 
pai^t of tlie President's message, which related to 
Ifidian affairs, turned their particular attention 
to the following enquiries : 

<< 1st. Whether any, ami what agency the 
subjects of the IJritish government may have 
had in exciting the Indians on the western fron« 
tier, to hostilities against the United States, 

<• 2d. The evidence of such hostility, on the 
part of the Indian tribes, prior to the late cam« 
paign on the Wabash. 

<* 3d. The orders by which the campaign was 
authorised and carried on." 

The committee reported, that " the evidence 
before them was as conclusive as the nature of 
the case can well be supposed to admit of, that 
the supply of Indian goods furnished at Fort 
Maiden, and distributed during the last year by 
the Briiish agents in Upper Canada, to the In- 
dian tribes, were more abundant than usual ; and 
it is difficult to account for this extraordinary 
liberality, on anj other ground fhanthatofan 
intention to attach the Indians to the British 
cause, in the event of a war with the United 
States." 

« Additional presents," continued the commit- 
tee, «* co^ssisting of arms and ammunition, given 
at a time when there is evidence that the British 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ±9B 

V* ere apprized of the hostile disposition of the 
Indians, accompanied with the speeches address- 
ed to them, exciting disKffeetion, are of too deci- 
sive a character to leave doubt on the subject.'* 

The part which the Indians took in the war 
between Great Britain and the Uaited States, 
was an additional and strong evidencejn support 
of the agency, which the British government 
had in the early hostility of the savages. 

Scarcely was the Indian war >vith the north 
western tribes brought to a conclusion, than the 
tomahawk was raised on the south-western bor- 
der. 

The southern tribes were divided into parties ;. 
One hostile, the other friendly, to the United 
States. The former was the stronger party | 
the latter needed protection, and were so bent on 
hostility, that it was found impossible to enforce 
on them a neutral policy. A departure from the 
usual forbearance of the United States* govern- 
ment, to accept their services, was unavoidable ; 
and the proffered services of friendly Indians 
were accepted. 

It having been discovered that in consequence 
©fan order from a British general in Canada, a 
large quantity of munitions of war were distri- 
buted by the Spanish governor of Pensacola> 
among the hostile tribe of Indians, Colonel Col* 
Her, with about 180 men, marched, with a view 
to intercept the Indians, on their return. On 
the 27th July, 1813, on the east side of Alaba- 
ma, and waters of Escambia, he fell in with, 
and gave battle to the Muscogees. The fight 
was, for a short time, Well maintained on both 
sides. At the moment when viet«4ry was about 
to declare in favour of Col. Collier's party, a 
junior officer, without authority, cried out « re- 



i,96 HlSTlmY Of THE WASi 

treat V^ It passed tin ough the whole line, and, 
Eotwilhstamling the exertions of Col. Collier, it 
^as impossible tcb rallj the militia : the enemy 
was lelt master of the field. Col. Collier los* 
2 nicsi killed, and 10 wounded. The Indians 
aeknowhidged a loss of six killed, and several 
bounded. A considerahle part of the presents 
brought hj the Indians from Pensaeola, fell into 
Col. Collier's hands. 

Fort Minjms, on Tensaw, Mas unexpectedly 
attacked on the 30rh August, by a large force of 
Indians. The front gate lay open, and the 
Indians were rushing through, when first per- 
ceived by the garrison. The men, under com- 
mi'.nd of Major Rcasley, were quickly formed, 
and a part of them contested a passage through 
the gate with great bravery ; the action soon 
became general ; the port- holes were taken and 
re-taken several times. A block-house was de- 
fended by Capt. Jack and a few riflemen, for an 
hour after a part of it had been possessed by 
1 he enemy. A galling fire was kept up from 
the houses, until the enemy gave fire to the 
roofs. The place was no longer tenable. A 
retreat was attempted, under direction of Capt. 
Bailey, of the militia, and Ensign Chambless, 
of the rifle company, but few of the party were 
able to aifect it. Major Beasley fell while de- 
fending the gatei at the commencement of the 
iiction, which continued for about six hours. — 
^^inety-two men, including officers, were killed^ 
and many respectable citizens, with numerous 
families, who had abandoned their farms for se- 
curity, were also killed or burned in the houses^ 
into which they had fled. The loss of the ene- 
iny could not be ascertained, but must have beeij 
very considerable. 



aiSTOKT or- THE WAK. ±9T 

Capt. Kennedj^, who was sent, after the re- 
treat of the Indians, to bury the dead, made a 
report to Gen. Claiborne, of which the following 
is an extract : 

" We collected and consii^ned to the earth TWO 
HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN, including 
men, ivomen aod children. 

*• The adjacent woods were strictly searched for 
our countrymen, and in that pursuit we discovered 
at least one hundred slaughtered Indians. They 
were covered with rails, brush. Sec. We could not 
be mistaken as to their being Indians, as they were 
interred with their war-dress and implements — and 
although they have massacred a number of our help- 
less women and children, it is, beyond doubt, to 
them, a dear-bought victory." 

Tlie massacre at Fort Minims, Avas followed 
by several other cruel murders in different 
places. 

The general government, having been inform- 
ed of these transactions, made a requisition on 
the states of Tennessee and Georgia, for detach- 
ments of militia, to be sent against the hostile 
Indians of the Cre^k nation. 

The legislature of the state of Tennessee a- 
dopted a resolution, on the 27th September, in 
the following words : 

<' Resolved. That the governor of this state be, and 
he is hereby required, forthwith to give immediate 
information to the executive of the United States, 
of the time when, and the place at wh'ch, the 3,500. 
men will be prepared to obey the orders of the gene- 
ral government, accompanied with a request that the 
said troops' be immediately received into the public 
service.** 

The legislature of Georgia gave authority to 
the gtiveraos'. to call out such portion of the mi- 
litia, as he might deem necessary, for the secu- 
R2 



198 HISTORY OF THE WAK, 

r'liy and proteclion of the frontier inhabitants ; 
and requiiin.c; that he call on the general gov- 
ernment for 8ubsisten<'e for the troops that might 
be thus ealkd out. This was, in effect, putting 
them at tlie disposal of the general government. 

I'he militia of the states of Georgia and Ten- 
nessee, >vith the nearest regular troops, and 
other corps from the Missisippi territory, were 
marched against tlie hostile savages. General 
Andrew Jackson commanded the entire. 

The first victory (for evesy battle, aftep this 
period, was a victory,) is thus detailed by Gen. 
Jackson : 

" We have retaliated for the destruction of Fort 
Minims. On the 2d, I detached Gen. Coffee with a 
part of his brigade of cavalry and mounted riflemen, 
to destroy Tallushatches, where a considerable force 
of the hostile Creeks were concentrated. The gen- 
eral executed this in style. A hundred and eighty- 
six of the etxmy were four d dead on the field, and 
about 80 taken prisoners, 40 of whom have been 
brought here. In the number left, there is a suffi- 
ciency but slightly wounded, to take care of those 
who are badly. 

" I have to regret, that five of my brave fellows 
have been killed, and about 30 wounded ; some bad-^ 
jy, bull none I hope mortally. 

" Both ofTcers and men behaved with the utmost?, 
bravery and deliberation. 

« Captains Sn;ith, Bradley, and Winston, are 
wounded, all slight'y. Ko officer is killed.'* 

It appears, by (xen. Coffee's statement, dated 
Camp at Ten- islands of Coosh^ November 4<th, 
that the Indians fought with a bravery that 
would do them honour, bad they been engaged hx 
a just cause, with an obstinacy, that would 
yield to nothing but death, and with a contempt 
Qf ^anger^ truly charueteristic of the saYage,«- 



IliSTORY OF THE WAR, 199 

The detachiijcnt, under command of Gen. Coffee, 
consisted of 600, cavalry and mounted riflemen. 
Being arrived within one and a half miJes of the 
Tallushutches town, the detachment was divided 
into two columns, the right composed of the 
cavalry, under Col, Allcorn ; the left composed 
of mounted riflemen, under Col. Cannon. Gen. 
Coffee, marched with the riflemen ; Col. Allcorn 
encircled one half of the town, while Col. Can- 
non completed the circle, hy closing on the side 
opposite to Col. Allcorn. When within half a 
mile of the town, the drums of the enemy beat, 
and the savage yells announced that the enemy 
was prepared for battle. In about an hour af- 
ter sun-rise, Capt. Hammond, and Lieut. Patter- 
son's companies went within the circle, and suc- 
ceeded in drawing forth the enemy, and com- 
menced the battle, when they withdrew before 
a violent chai;ge from the Indians, until they 
reached Col. Al horn's celumn, when a gene- 
ral fire was opened on the savages, who retreat- 
ed, firing until they got around and into their 
buildings. Here they fought as long as one 
existed. No quarter was sought, and none,^ 
from all appearance, would be accepted. Ulie 
assault by the troops was warm and courageous, 
rushing up to the doors of the houses, as little 
intimidated as if there was no enemy to oppose 
them. In a conflict of this nature, it was im- 
possible to provide against the destruction of a 
few of the squaws and children. The number' 
of the enemy killed mvM have exceeded 200 ; 
186 of whom were found; 84 women and chiK 
dren were taken prisoners. The loss of the mi- 
litia consisted of 5 privates killed: 4 captainsy 
2 lieutenants, 3 cornets, 3 sergeants, 5 corgoi^ 
i?ais^ i artificer, and 24 privates, wounded^u 



300 HISTOHY OP THE WAS. 

On the evening of the 7th November, an ex» 
press arrived to Gen. Jackson, with information^ 
that the hostile Creeks had encamped in great 
force near Lashlev's fort, (Talladaga.) with the 
apparent intention of attacking the friendly In- 
dians. The general immediately^ marched with 
about 2000 men, against the enemy, and en- 
camped that night within six miles of the fort» 
At 4 o'clock, on the morning of the 8th, he con- 
tinued his march toward the enemy, who wa§ 
encamped within a quarter of a mile of the fort, 
to relieve which, Gen. Jackson had so expedi- 
tiously moved. At sun-rise, the General was 
within half a mile of the fort, when he moved 
forward in order of battle. The plan of attack 
was similar to that which proved so successful 
on the 3d inst. The enemy was to be enclosed 
in a circle. The advanced guard sent forward 
to bring on the engagement, succeeded in draw- 
ing forward the savages toward the main body 
of the army. On the arrival of the Indians, 
within a short distance of the main body of the 
army, a few companies of the militia commenc- 
ed a retreat; but finding their place quickly 
supplied by a body of cavalry, who dismounted 
for the purpose, the militia rallied, when a gen- 
eral lire from'the front line, and from that part 
of the wings which was contiguous, was poured 
©n the savages, who, unable to withstand or re- 
sist, retreated; but were met at every turn, 
and repulsed in every direction. Had it not 
been for the retreat of the militia, in the early 
part of the action, this victory would probably 
have been as complete aS that of the 2d\ The 
victory, however, was \ery decisive ; 290 of the 
enemy were left dead on the field ; many more 
^er« probably killed,^ who were aot found y aud 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 20l 

many, or most of those who escaped, must have 
been wounded. Jackson was compelled to re- 
turn to his camp near the TeH-islands, having 
inarched from thence without baggage, or oth- 
er necessaries that could be dispensed with, or 
might retard his march. He lost, in the en- 
gagement, 17 killed, and 86 wounded. The en- 
emy exeeeded 1000 warriors. A stand of co- 
lours, bearing the Spanish cross, was taken from 
them. 

On the 12th November, Oen. White was de- 
tached from Fort Armstrong, on the Coosa, 
with about 110() mounted men, (including up- 
wards of 300 Cherokee Indians,) for the purpose 
oF attacking the Hillabee towns, on the west 
side of Tallapoosa river. On the 17th, about 1 
o'clock at night, the detachment marched with- 
in eight miles of the upper town, received infor- 
mation from one of their spies, a half breed and 
son of a Mr. Grayson, who had considerable 
property, and resided in that place, that his fam- 
ily and property would be sacrificed by the In- 
dians on the next day, if Gen. White did not re* 
lieve him. Gen. White, with alacrity, dismount- 
ed three hundred of his troops, with part ot the 
Indians, and marched to surprise the town be- 
fore day light. Having large creeks to wade, 
and the van having to tarry some time for the 
rear, which had fallen behind some distance, 
the town was not reached until sun-rise on the 
18th, when the town was completely surround- 
ed, and the savage enemy received the first fire 
without the least notice of the approach. They 
fired several guns, but were charged home 
upon them with loaded muskets, and charge of 
bayonets; and in 10 or 15 minutes they held up 
a flag, and the firing ceased. An Indian town 



202 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

at Little Oakfuskee, consisting of 30 houses^ ^ 
town called Genalga, consisting of 93 houses, 
were burned hy the troops in their march. The 
great number, if not the whole of the hostile 
Ureeks, assembled at the Hillabee town, con- 
sisting of about 316, were either killed or cap- 
tured. Sixty warriors were killed on the spot. 
Gen. White's detachment had not a man killed 
or wounded. 

Gen Floyd, with 950 of the Georgia militia, 
and between 300 and 400 friendly Indians, pro- 
ceeded to a town called Auttossee, on the south- 
ern bank t)f the Talapoosee, about 18 miles from 
the Hickory Ground, in order to attack a large 
force of hostile Indians, reported to be assem- 
bled at that pl?ice. At half an hour after six 
o'clock, in the morning of the 29th November, 
the expedition reached the front of the town, 
and the men were formed for action. At this 
time, when the army was about to execute a 
pre-concerted manoeuvre, for the purpose of 
surrounding the enemy, a second town was dis- 
covered about 500 yards below that which was 
first discovered. This compelled Gen. Floyd to 
adopt a new manoeuvre, by dividing and dispos- 
ing his force, so that both towns might be at- 
tacked at once. This disposition being made, 
and the troops having advanced, the battle com- 
menced,, and soon became general. The Indians 
fought with their usual obstinacy and despera- 
tion, but were soon compelled, by the superior 
force of artillery, and a charge of bayonets, to 
retreat, and take refuge in the out- houses and 
copses in the rear of the town. At 9 o'clock, 
the enemy was completely driven from the plahi, 
and the houses wrapped in flames. The militia 
bein^ 60 miles from any depot of provisions^ and 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 203' 

but little remaining, it was judged imprudent to 
continue in the heart of a country, surrounded 
by hosts of savages. This place was, therefore, 
abandoned, and the troops commenced their 
march to Chatahouchie. 

Auttossee was a favourite spot with the Indians, 
and it is conjectured, that the force assembled 
from several towns for its defence, must have 
been very considerable. It is difficult to give a 
precise account of the loss of the enemy ; but 
from the number which were lying scati.e**td 
over the field, together with those destroyed ia 
the towns, and the many ^lam on the bi ik of 
the river, which respectable otlieers affirm they 
saw lying in heaps at the water s edge, where 
they hud been precipitated by their surviving 
friends, their loss in killed, independent of their 
"wounded, must have been at least 200, (among 
whom vvere the Vuttossee and Tallassee kings;) 
and from the circumstances of their making no 
efforts to molest the troops, probably greater. 
The nuiuber of buildings burnt, some of a supe- 
rio;' order, for the dwellings of savages, and fill- 
ed with valu.ible articles, is supposed to be 400. 
The number of the Americans killed and 
wounded, as furnished by the hospital surgeon, 
was— Total killed. 11; total wounded, 54; a- 
mon,:^ whom was Gen. Floyd, badly. 

V detachment, under command of Gen. Clai- 
borne, marched from Fort Claiborne, east bank 
of the Alabama, on the 13th of December, a- 
gainst the Indians residing on the Alabnnia, 
above the mouth of the Cahaba. After a mai'ch 
of more than 100 miles, principally through 
woods, without a track to guide them, they 
came in sight of a new town, lately built by the 
Indians^ oh a ground called « Holy." Ihk 



204b HISTORY OV THE WAR, 

town was established as a place of securify for 
the inhabitants of several villages; and three 
of the prophets resided in it. The place was 
then occupied by a large body of the enemy, un- 
der the command of VVetherford, a bold and 
sanguinary chief, who was one of those who 
commaxided the Indians at the massacre of the 
garrison and inhabitants at Fort Mirams. About 
noon, on the 23d December, the right colunm 
of the army, coinposed of 12 month's volunteers, 
commanded by Col. Joseph Carson, came in 
view of the town, and was immediately and vig- 
orous attacked by the enemy, who, being ap- 
prized of the approach of the troops, had cho- 
sen their field of action. Before the other 
troops or friendly Indians could come generally 
into action, the enemy were repulsed, and flying 
in all directions. Thirty of the enemy were 
killed, and many wounded. The loss to the ar- 
my was one killed, and six wounded. A pur suit 
was attempted, but found to be impractieahle, 
owing to the nature of the ground. The town, 
consisting of 200 houses, was burned, together 
with a large quantity of provisions, and immense 
property of various kinds, which the enemy 
could not carry away. The next day was em- 
ployed in destroying a town consisting of sixty 
houses, ei'jcbt miles higher up the river. 

Notwithstanding these repeated defeats, the 
ravages seemed yet bent on war. Before day, 
on the morning of the 27th January, a very 
large body of Indians attacked the troops at 
Camp-nefiance, 48 miles west of Chatahouchie. 
The onset was desperate, and the surprise as 
complete as possible. In 20 minutes after fir- 
ing on the sentinels, the action became general, 
the enemy pressing close on the front, right and 



HISTORY OH THE WAR. 205 

left iianks of the army ; but the savages were 
repelled at every point. The enemy rushed 
nearly to tiie cannon's mouth, aiul gained the 
rear of the picket guards, commanded by Capt. 
Broadnax ; but the latter bravely cut their way 
through the savages, and joined the army. As 
soon as day dawned, and objects could be dis- 
tinguished, a charge was ordered, and the en- 
emy fled before the bayonet. The signal was 
given for the charge of the cavalry, who pur- 
sued and sabred 15 of the enemy ; v/ho left 37 
dead on the field. From the eftusion of biood, 
and the number of head-dresses, and war-clubs, 
found in various directions, their loss must have 
been considerable. Tlie loss of the army, on 
this occasion, was 17 killed, and 132 wounded. 
Of the friendly Indians, five were killed, and 15 
wounded. 

Gen. Jackson having received information at 
his head-quarters, Fort Strother, from Capt. 
M'Alpin, who commanded at Fort Armstrong, 
in the absence of Coi. Hnodgrass, that ti or 15 
towns of the enemy, situated on the waters of 
the Tallapoosee, were about uniting their forces, 
and attacking the fort, which was then in a 
feeble state of defence, the general resolved on 
an excursion into the enemy's country, further 
than had been hitherto attempted. He accord- 
ingly commenced his march on the 15th January, 
with 930 men, exclusive of Indians. On tho 
18th, the army encamped at Talladega fort, 
where it was joined by about 200 friendly Creek 
Indians, and 65 Cherokees. Here the general 
received a letter from Colonel Snedgrjiss, who 
had returned to Fort Armstrong, informing him, 
that an attack was soon to be made on that fort> 
b^' 900 of the enemy. It was further uader« 

s 



^tJ HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

stoed, that the enemy was collecting in a beitd 
of the Tallapoosee, near the mouth of a creek 
called Emuckfau, on an island below New-Yor- 
can. 

On ihe 20tli, at night, the army encamped 
at a small Hillabee village, about 12 miles from 
Emuckfau. On the 21st, the army marched in 
a direct line for the bend of the Tallapoosee.— 
In the afternoon, the army halted, and the gen- 
oral determined to encamp for the night, that 
JHe might have time to reconnoitre, and make 
dispositions for attack, if he were in the neigh^ 
Jiourhood of a large force, which, from appear- 
ance, he judged to be the case. Having chosen 
an eligible scite, the army encamped in a hollow 
square. Spies and pickets were sent out, the 
sentinels doubled, and the necessary arrange^ 
ments were made to resist an attack, if it should 
be attempted during the night ; or to make one, 
if the enemy could be found at day-light the 
following morning. While the army was in 
this state of readiness, the enemy, about 6 o'clock 
in the morning, commenced a vigorous attack 
•n the left flank, which was as vigorously met. 
The action raged for half an hour on the left 
flank, and on the left of the rear of the army. 

The brave Gen. Coffee, with CoL Sittler, the 
adjutant- general, and Col. Carroll, the inspector- 
general, the moment the firing commenced, 
jtuounted their horses and repaired to the line, 
encouraging and animating the men to the per- 
formance of their du<y. So soon as it became 
light enough to pursue, the left wing, having 
sustained the heat of the action, and being some- 
what weakened, was reinforced by Capt. Fer- 
rilPs company of infantry, and was ordered and 
lid on to the charge by General Coffee, who wa? 



HISTOBY OF THE WAK. 



20: 



W4^n supported by Col. Iligj-ins, and the inspec- 
4or-£:cneial, and by all the omcers and privates 
^ho composed that line. The enemy was com. 
pletely routed at every point, and the Iriendly 
Indians joining \u the pursuit, they were cnased 
about two miles, with eonshlerable slaug.iter. 

Gen. Coffee, who was detached with 4.00 men,, 
to reconnoitre the enemy's encampment, return, 
ed, Avith a view to bring up the artillery, which 
he deemed necessary to the attack. In haU au 
hour after his return, a considerable force ot 
the enemy commenced a fire on a party ot meii 
^vho were then in search of Indians, ben. Cot- 
fee, with only 5^ men, a part of 200 wlio were 
to have acted with him, commenced an attacK 
on the left flank of the enemy,- 200 friendly In- 
dians were ordered at the same time to attack 
the enemy's right. At this moment it was dis- 
covered that the attack of the enemy was but a 
feint, having intended, by drawing off the gene- 
ral's attention from his left, to attack it with 
success: in this the enemy was disappointed. 
The whole line n)ei the approach of the enemy 
with astonishing intrepidily, and having charg- 
€d, iorced the savages to retreat with precipita- 
tion They were pursued to a considerable 
distance, and severely galled by a very destrue- 

t,ive fire. 

During this transactir>n, Gen. Coffee was con- 
tending against a very superior force. As sooa 
as possible a reinforcement was sent to his aid, 
which soon decided the contest in that quarter: 
the enemy was charged, routed, and pursued ior 
three miles. Nothing now remained but to de- 
stroy an empty camp, which did not seem of sut- 
itcient imoortance to delay a return to Fort 
Strother, which was commGnced (m the follow^ 
ing morning* 



$08 HISTORY or THE WAB> 

On the 2ith, as the men were crossing the 
Enotachopoc creek, an alarm gun announced 
tLe advance of (he enenij. Gen. Jackson ex- 
peeled an attack, and liad dispositions made to 
lurn it to the disadvantage of tlie enemy. The 
right and left columns of the army were direct- 
€d to turn on their pivots, recross the creek 
ahove and below, and fall on the enemy's flanks 
and rear. The manoeuvre, if executed, would 
probably prove as destructive to the enemy as 
any thing hitherto attempted ; hut, at the mo- 
ment when a few guns were iired, the right and 
}eit columns of the rear guard gave way ; the 
greater part of the centre column followed the 
disastrous example, leaving not more than 26 
men, who maintained their ground as long as 
possible. There was then left to repulse the 
enemy, but the few who remained in the rear 
guard, the artillery company, and Capt. RusselPs 
company of spies. Amidst a most galling fire 
from the enemy, this little band, not one-tenth 
of the number opposed to it, advanced to the 
attack. The artillery and a few others gained 
the top of a hill, drawing up with them a six- 
pounder, when they poured on the enemy several 
discharges of grape, then charged, repulsed, and 
pursued him for two miles, leaving 26 of their 
warriors dead on the field. The loss in these 
several engagements, was 20 killed and 75 
wounded. The loss of the enemy could not be 
exactly ascertained; 189 of their warriors were 
found dead ; this undoubtedly formed but a part 
of the killed,* the wounded must have been pro- 
portionr.bly numerous. 

All the ciTects intended by this excursion, 
£eem to Isave been produced. If an attack was 
iatciuled against Fort Armstrong, that was pro 



HISTORY 01? TUB V/AK* 20B 

Y^iiiQil; a diversion was made in favour of Geu. 
Fioyd, who was on the east side of the Talla- 
poosee ; tiie number of the enemy was lessened, 
and their confidence in their leaders broken in 
on 5* the enemy's country v/as explored^ and a 
roiid cut through an important part of it; and, 
on the whoh^ tended to. and hastened the termi- 
nation of Indian hostilities, as much, if not morcp 
than any previous expedition. 

Hitherto the enemy was engaged either in 
the opea field, or in situations wliere he had 
little advantage from works of art, and not much 
from nature. One situation remained to be as- 
sailed, where a skilful display of art rendered a 
position, naturally strong, so seemingly impreg- 
nable, that it required a great eifort of courage 
to approach it, a consummate skill to direct the 
attack, and a persevering, undaunted resolution^) 
to prosecute it to success. 

In the Ijend of the Taliapoosee, two miles be- 
yond v.here Gen. Jackson engaged the Indians 
on the S2d January, the savages had fixed on s 
seite for erecting a fortification. Nature fur-^ 
nished few places more eligible for defence, and 
it was improved by art, with a skill not discov^- 
ered before in an Indian fortification. The bend 
resembles, in its curvature, a horse- shoe. Across 
the neck of land, which Jcads into it from the 
Eorth, a breastwork was erected, of the greatest 
eompactness and strength, from 5 to 8 feet 
high, and prepared with double rows of port- 
holes, very artfully arranged ; an army could 
not approach it, without being exposed to a 
double and cross fire from the enemy, who lay 
in perfect security behind it. Gen. Jackson re- 
solved on the attack of this important and dou- 
l>ly strong position. The Indian force amount- 
s2 



210 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ed to about, or upwards of 1000 warriors. The 
army approached this formidable position on 
the 27th March, near enough to prepare for 
the attack. General Coffee, with the mounted 
luen, a«id nearly the whole of the Indian force, 
crossed the ri\er about t>io miles below the en- 
campment, Avitli a view to prevent the escape of 
the Indians ; the infantry advanced slowly along 
the point of land which led to the front of the 
breastwork ,* a six and a three pound cannon were 
planted on an eminence, at a distance of 150 to 
iiOO yards from it. A lire from rifles was di- 
rected against the enemy, whenever he showed 
Tiiii;iself beyond his defences. When this fire 
v/iik kept up about two hours, a party crossed 
oyer in canoes, and fired a fev/ of the buildings, 
and then advancing boldly up to the breastwork, 
eoii^menced a fire on the enemy behind it. This 
proving insnfficient to dislodge him, Gen. Jack- 
son resolved to take it by storm. The troops 
received the order with acclamation, and ad- 
vaneeti with an ardent and zealous enthusiasm. 
*» liiiving maintained," says Gen. Jackson, in 
his letier to Gov. Blount, « for a few minutes 
a very obstinate contest, muzzle to muzzle, 
tlirougli the portholes, in which many of the 
enemy's bails were welded to the bayonets of 
our muskets, our trftops succeeded in gaining 
possession of the opposite side of the works. 
The event could no longer be doubtful. The 
enemy, although many of them fought to the last 
"with that kind of bravery which desperation in- 
spires, were at length routed and cut to pieces. 
The wbo'e margin of the river which surround- 
ed the peninsula, was strewed with the slain.'* 
The fighting continued with some severity about 
five hours. Five hun^^r^d aod fifty- seven of the. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2il 

enemy were lert deiid on tbc peninsula, and a 
greut number were killed in attemptijig to cross 
the river ; it wiis supposed that not more than 
20 escaped; 250 women and children were taken 
pTMsonei's. Gen. Jackson's loss amounted to 43 
white men killed; and 173 wounded ; 23 friend- 
ly inillans killed, and 47 wounded. 

This battle broke down the spirits, as it ma- 
terially reduced the remaining strength of the 
savages. Wetherford surrendered himself to 
Gen. Jackson. Six or seven towns followed the 
example of this chief. M'({iiceih with 500 of 
Ifs fijllowers retired to the Escambia river. 
%iear Pensacola. Peace was quickly restos^ed. 
The militia were disbanded, and returned to 
their homes. 

Wetherford, whose unconditional surrender 
has been Just mentioned, had been the most ac- 
tive and sanguinary of all the Indian chiefs. He 
signalized himself in s^>veral actions: ever pre- 
sent where danger pressed, lie was the constant 
advocate of murder and exterciination. In a 
private interview with Gen. Jackson, he deliver- 
ed the following speech : 

« I fought at Fort Mimms — I fought the Geor- 
gian army — I did you all the injury I could — had I 
been supported as 1 was promised, I would have 
done you more. But my warriors are all killed — I 
can fight you no longer. I look back with sorrow, 
that I have brought destruction on my nation. L 
am now in your power — do with me as you please. 
I am a soldier." 

The barbarous complexion which the enemy 
gave to tlie war, was not confined to the em- 
ployment of Indians. We have already detailed 
barbarities in which Indians did not participate. 
IVIany others^ must remaia untold; our limit^^ 



312 HISTORY OF TilB WAK. 

"Will Rot admit a full detail of this pari of the 
subject. The treatment to prisoners of war wa& 
5iot merely unusual ; it was, in the last degree^ 
cruel, unprecedented, barbarous. The authen- 
ticated proofs, eoiigressioual records, affidavits, 
&c. are shockingly numerous. 

The exercise, by Britain, of a presumed right 
to command, at all times, the services of native 
subjects, gave rise to one of the causes of war,^ 
to wit, the impressment of seamen out of neutral 
vesticls on the high seas. This principle, it was 
intended, should govern the enemy in conducting 
the war. ^ 

The crew of Oie U. S. brig Nautilus, whieiif 
had been eaplurcd in the early part of tiie war, 
arrived at Jjoston in a cartel, the 11th Septem- 
ber, 181:i5, except six men, who were put m 
irons ; and were, as Lieut. Crane understood, to 
be tried for their lives as British subjects^ found 
in arms against their king. Com. Uodgers, on 
leariaing the circumstance, stopped a cartel 
which had got under way for Halifax, and took 
out twelve Englishmen as hostages for the six 
Americans. 

On the 11th October, six of the crew of the 
private armed ship Sarah Ann, which was cap- 
tured and sent to Nassau, were taken out of 
jail, and sent to Jaaiaica, to be there tried aa 
British subjects, found in arms against theip 
king. It appears, that, on this occasion, the 
B?itish officer fell into a mistake^ similar to 
those which had heen so commonly couimitted 
before the declaration of war ; four of the per- 
sons thus detained were natives of the United 
States; the others were Irishmen by birth, but 
had been naturalized citizens of the United 
States. On the arrival of Caj^it. Mooa (lat« 



HISTORY OF THE WAH. 213 

commander of the Sarah- Ann,) at Charleston, 
12 Englishmen, including a midshipman, were 
put in close continement, as Hostages for the six 
men taken from Capt. Moon's crew. 

By a letter from Geo. S. Wise, pursuer of the 
United States' sloop of war Wasp, to the secre-' 
tary of war, it appears that after the capture 
of that vessel, by the Bs Uish ship Poictiers, 12 
of the crew of the Wasp were detained by Capt. 
Beresford, as British subjects. 

That tlie enemy intended to deny to others 
the exercise of rights in manner as claimed by 
himself, is evident, from the circumstance of 
the British admiral Warren having refused the 
liberation of Thomas Dunn, a native of the U. 
States, because the said Dunn, had been married 
in Englandf and had been eight years in his ma • 
jesty's service. The application for his libera- 
tion was made by Mr. Mitchell, U. S. agent for 
the exchange of prisoners at Halifax, at the 
particular request of the father of said Dunn, 
then residing at Boston. 

Twenty-three of the prisoners, taken by the 
enemy at Queenstown, were sent to England, to 
be tried as British subjects, for appearing in 
arms against their king. The United States' 
government ordered 23 British soldiers into 
close confinement, as hostages for the safety of 
those so taken at Queenstown. In retaliation, 
the British government ordered 46 United States' 
officers and non-commissioned officers into close 
and rigorous confinement. 

The system of retaliation, after this circum- 
stance, bore a very serious asj>ect, and threiten- 
ed to be as extensive as prisoners on either side 
were numerous. 

The secretary of state transmitted to congress 



^14 HISTORY OF THE WAR» 

on the 16th April, 1814, a very important report 
on the subject matter which led to the practice 
of retaliation, in which it is stated, that the Bri- 
tish government, among other pretexts for not 
discharging citizens of the United States im- 
pressed into their service, alledged, that they 
were natives of Prussia, Sweeden, &e. thus evinc- 
ing, that the recovery of their own native sub- 
jects, was not the sole motive of impressment, — 
The secretary further reported, 

" That all the nations of Europe naturalize foreign- 
ers : 

" That they all employ in their service the sub- 
jects of each other, and frequently against their na- 
tive countries, even when not regularly naturalized ; 

*' That although examples may be found of the 
punishment of their native subjects taken in arms 
against them, the examples are few, and have either 
been marked by peculiar circumstances taken them 
out of the controverted principle, or have proceeded 
from the passions or policy of the occasion. Even 
in prosecutions and convictions havinfj the latter ori- 
gin the find act of punishment nas, with little excep* 
tion, been prevented by a sense of equity and dread 
of retaliation. It is confidently believed that no in- 
stance can be found in which the alledged purposes 
of the enemy against the 23 prisoneis in question, un- 
der all the circuiX'Stances which bel' ng to their case, 
even though any of theoi ma not have been regular- 
ly naturalized, are countenanced by the proceedings 
®f any Europen nation.*' 

A publication, of which the following is a 
fopy. appeared from the navy department of the 
United States the 28th July 1814, and was un- 
derstood to be a relinquishment of the system of 
?etaIiation, on the part of England and of the 
United Slates ; the 23 American soldiers, sen?: 
to England, and all otlaer AiH^riesRs held by the 



IlISTOBY or THE WAS. 21 & 

enemy as hostages, having been restored to the 
slate of ordinary prisoners. 

*' All officers, seamen and marines of the U. S. 
Kavy, captured by the troops or vessels, within the 
command of Sir George Prevost, prior to the 15th 
day of April last, have been duly exchanged and de- 
clared competent to st rve against the enemy. They 
will therefore immediately report themselves to the 
commanding naval officer of the station on which 
they are or may arrive.'* 

The time, when the armies must be in >vinter 
quarters, and the officers less engaged than tney 
would be at another season, was chosen for the 
trial of Gen. Hull. A genera! court martial as- 
sembled for that purpose at Albany, the 5th 
January, ISl*^ and proceeded in the trial, from 
time in time, until the 8ih March. 

Three charges were presented against him, 
id wit, treason against the United States ; cow- 
ardice; and neglect of duty and unoff^cerAikt 
mnduct—io all which, he pleaded not guilty. 

The general, having proCested against the 
ftompeteney of the court to try the first charge, 
the court declined making any formal decision on 
it ; but yet gave an opinion that nothing appear- 
ed to them which could justify the charge. 

The court acquitted him of that pan of the 
third specification which charges him with bar* 
ing " forbidden the American artillery to fire on 
<he enemy, on their march towards the said Fort 
Detroit," and found him guilty of the first, se- 
cond part of the third, and the fourth specifica- 
tions. 

On the third charge, the court found the ac- 
cused guilty of neglect of duty, in omitting sea- 
sonably to inspect, train, exercise, and order the 
troops under his command, or cause the same to be 



S16 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

done. They also found him guilty of part of llie 
fourth and fifth specifieations, and the whole of 
the sixth and seventh; and acquitted hiui of the 
second aud third, and part of the fourth and fifth 
speeiilcations. 

The court sentenced " the said Brigadier-Gen- 
eral William Hull to he shot to death, two thirds 
of the court concurring in the sentence; hut, in 
consideration of his revolutionary services, and 
his advanced age, reeommeRded him to the mer- 
cy of the President of the United States." 

The President of the United States aj'proved 
the sentence, remitted the execution, and order- 
ed the naaie of Gen. Hull to be erased from the 
list of the army. 

The general, in an address to the people of the 
United States, appealed to their decision against 
the verdict and sentence of the court, declaring 
himself innocent, notwithstanding the verdict, 
and charging the government with persecution 
and injustice to himself. 

A circumstance of great interest, and whieli 
might have a great eifect on the war between 
Great-Britain and the United States, occurred 
in March, 1814. On the 31st of that month, the 
allied armies of Austria, Prussia, and Kussia, 
headed by their respective sovereigns, triumph- 
antly entered the French capital, overthrew ihe 
Bonapartean dynasty, sent its chief into exile, 
and replaced Louis XVIII. on the throne of his 
ancestors. 

Hitherto the power of England was divided 
between making war on France and the United 
States of x\merica; it was to be now entirely 
turned against the latter, at least so the British 
editors threatened. Indeed America would cer- 
tainly be punished, overthrown, le-subjugated/ 



HISTORY OF THK WAR. 217 

and enslaved, if the editor's lead could be form- 
ed into balls, instead of types, and these pressed 
into cannon, instead of being pressed on paper. 

The new situations of affairs in Europe, cre- 
ated much alarm, but no despondency in Ameri- 
ca. The citizens saw the approach of a terrible 
conflict, but tliey resolved to meet it. The le- 
gions, which gained the character of " invinci- 
ble," in Spain, Portugal, and France, weie to be 
vomited on the shores of America; the thousand 
ships of Britain were to blockade the coast; Bri- 
tish tars, without number, were to cover the 
lakes ; and these myriads, by sea and by land, 
were to be directed, by those commanders who 
swept the European navies from the ocean, and 
out-rivaled the best generals of the first warrior 
in the world. Yet, notwithstanding these exter- 
minating threats and gloomy prospects, Ameri- 
ca was destined to preserve her independence and 
honour; and to gather more laurels in 1814, 
than she did in any former year of this war. 

In accordance with the views^ of the war de- 
partment, and a design, the result of a corres- 
pondence between the Secretary of War and 
Gen. Wilkinson, the latter entered Canada, on 

♦ General Wilkinson's words, in his official state° 
ment, were, " Pursuant to the designs communicated 
to you in my last, and to accomplish your views.** 
Immediately after the publication of the general's 
letter, the following comment appeared in the Na- 
tional Intelligencer ; « We are authorised to state, 
that Gen. Wilkinson's late movement was not pur- 
suant to the views of the war department. These 
-views (or orders) advised him to seize and hold a giv- 
en position on Lake Champlain, and admonished him 
against an incursion into Canada." 
T 



218 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

the morning of the 30th March, 181*. The 
issue of this expedition was unrortunatc, although 
in its progress, it did honour to the Americans 
engaged. The enemy elairned a victory, only 
because he was not vanquished ; and pretendcil 
to gather laurels, while circumstances concurred 
to render it nearly impossible to attack or drive 
iiirn from his cowardly strong-holds. 

General Wilkinson, at the head of his division, 
marched Irom Cbamplain, with the intention of 
reducing the enemy's fortress at the river La 
Cole. Ahout 11 o'clock, he fell in with the ene- 
my at OdcU Town, three miles from La Cole, 
and six from St. John's. An attack was com- 
menced by the enemy on the advance of the army 
under Col. Clark and Major Forsyth. Col. 
Bissel came up with spirit, and the enemy was 
forced to retire with loss. General Wilkinson 
took part in this action, and bravely advanced 
into the most dangerous position, declining fre- 
quently the advice of his ofiicers, to retire from 
imiiiincnt danger. The enemy having used his 
congreve rockets, without producing any effect, 
retired to La Cole, whither he was pursued. At 
this place an action was expected ; but the en- 
emy, whose force, when increased by a reinlbrce- 
ment ti*om Isle-au-Noix, amounted to at least 
2,300 men, mostly regulars, declined meeting the 
American force, although much inferior in num- 
bers and me'ins of warfare. He took possession 
of a block-house and a stone mill, the wall ol 
which was so thiek, that it could not be battered 
except by the heaviest artillery. An 1 8 pounder, 
which was brought from Cbamplain, could not 
be drawn over the bad roads, and was left be- 
hind ; a buttery of lighter guns was raised within 
300 yards of the mill; but no breach was practi- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 219 

cable Uy it. Several sorties iverc made by the 
eDemy, but tbey were resisted with bravery and 
success. The cannonade was continued until it 
was fully ascertained Ibat no breach could be 
inade^ and tliat the enemy would not come to an 
enj^agenient, when the Americans withdrew to 
Odell Town, and afterwards to Champlain. 

Captain M«Pherson, of the light artillery, 
(military secretary to Gen. AVilkinson) was, at 
liis own particular request, placed in commaRd 
of the guns which formed the battery ; lie was 
aided by Lieutenants Larrabee and Slieldon. — 
Captain M^Pherson soon received a wound under 
the chin, which he tied up with his handkerchief, 
and continued at his piece until a second shot, 
which broke his thigh, brought hiiii to the 
earth. Larribee bad kept his station until shot 
through the lungs ; and Sheldon kept up the fire 
until ordered to retire. The conduct of every 
individual attached to the American command, 
was marked by that patriotism and prowess 
wliich has so often conquered the boasted disci- 
pline, long experience, and military tactics of an 
<'nemy, who dared not to expose his << invinci- 
bles" to ihe disgrace of being defeated by a less 
numerous force of Yankee woodsmen. 

A small quantity of stores, intended for the 
use of the army and fleet at Sackett's Harbour, 
were deposited at Fort Oswego ; and a consider- 
able quantity at the Falls, 10 miles in the rear 
of the fort. The enemy prepared an expedition 
to seize both. Lieut. Col. Mitchell, of the ar- 
tillery, arrived at Oswego on the 30th April, 
1814*, for the protection of that place, which he 
found in a very bad state of defence. Of cannon, 
there were but 5 guns, S of which had lost tlieiF 
trunn-ioas, What could be done in the wav of 



220 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

repair, was effected ; new platforms were lak!^ 
the gun carriages put in order, and decayed pick- 
ets rc-placed. At day-ligbt, on the morning of 
5th May, a British naval force of 4 ships, 5 
brigs, and a number of gun and other boats, 
were discovered at about 7 miles from the fort. 
The force, at the fort, consisted of 290 effectives. 
These were two few for the purpose of defence, 
it became necessary to disguise this weakness, 
and to keep the entire in one place : for this pur- 
pose the tents were pitched on one side of the 
river, and the men were all ordered to the other. 
At one o'clock, 15 large barges, crowded with 
men, moved toward the side opposite that on 
which the tents were pitched, and where there 
appeared the least show of resistance. These 
were preceded by gun-boats, to cover the land- 
ing. As soon as the boats got within the range 
ot^shot, a very successful fire was opened frojn 
the shore-battery, which compelled them to re- 
tire twice, when they stood off, and returned to 
their ships. Some boats, which had been desert- 
ed, were taken up by the militia ; one of the boats 
was 60 feet long, and could accommodate 150 
men. 

At day-break, on the 6th, the fleet again ap- 
proached the fort. The Wolfe, and other ves- 
sels, kept up a fire for three hours against the 
fort and batteries. Col. Mitchell, finding that 
the enemy had landed about 2000 men, withdrew 
his small force into the rear of the fort; and, 
with two companies, (Komayne and Melvin's) 
met their advancing columns, while the other 
companies engaged the flanks of the enemy. — 
With the aid of Ijeut. Pierce, of the navy and 
some seamen, the little American band main- 
tained its ground for half an hour. Col. Mitchel? 



KI3T0ST 0¥ THE WAI?.r i?2^1 

tlieii marched liis force, but not precipitatelj', to 
die falls, destroying the bridges in his rear. — 
The enemy, although commanded by Gen. Drum* 
mond and Com. Yeo, did not think proper to pur 
^ue the colonel. They burned the old barracks, 
and evacuated the fort about three o'clock in the 
morning of the 7th. 

The American loss amounted to- 6 killed, SS 
wounded, and 25 missing — total 69. Deserters 
from the enemy stated his less to be 70 killed; 
i65 wounded, drawned and missing—total 235. 
Kight pieces of cannon, and some stores, wortk 
about 100 dollars, fell into the enemy's hands. 

On no occasion, did the Americans deserve 
better of their country ; at no time before, did 
the enemy buy victory with less advantage to 
himself, or at a dearer price. The companies^ 
under command of Col. Mitchell, consisted of 
Boyle's, Romayne's, MTntire's, and Pierce's, 
heavy artillery, and a few seamen ; in all, less 
than 300 men. Twice they repulsed, and for 
nearly two days maintmned a contest against 
seven times their number, and finally succeeded 
in preserving the stores at the falls, the loss of 
which would materially impede the operations 
of the army and navy. The enemy carried oif 
60 of the unarmed inhabitants of the village,, 
who were stated in the British report, as so ma- 
ny prisoners. 

On theoOth May, Capt. AVooIsey, of the navyv 
being on his return from Oswegaj with 18 boats, 
carrying a number of cannon, and a quantity of 
rigging for the new vessels at Sackett's Harbor, 
put into Sandy Creek, alK)ut 16 miles from the 
Harbour. Fearing an attack from the enemy. 
Major \rding wiis placed, with i-zo riOf-men, and 
a &w of the Oneida Indian?), ia the woods, ou 

T %. 



222 HISTORY or THE WAR. 

each side of the creek ; a few raw militia were 
gent forward to make a show of resistance. The 
plan succeeded ; the militia, on the first fire from 
the enemy, retreated in apparent confusion, and 
were pursued until the entire passed the riflemen 
and Indians, who were in ambush. The enemy 
was attacked in rear, while a battery of 4 field 
pieces opened on him in front. The contest was 
not of long duration. After ten n»inutes fighting, 
the enemy surrendered. The enemy lost 2 post- 
captains, 4 lieutenants, of the royal navy, prison-^ 
ers; 2 lieutenants of marines, wounded and pri- 
soners ; 1 midshipman, and 13 sailors and ma- 
rines, killed ; 28 sailors and marines wounded, 
and 133 sailors and marines, prisoners — total 183* 
2 gun-boats and 5 barges were taken. Only one 
American was wounded. 

On the 15th May, the enemy landed several 
hundred men at Pultneyville, (which is on the 
margin of Lake Ontario,) and took possession of 
100 barrels damaged flour, which were in a store 
close by tlie lake. Gen. Swift, on hearing of the 
advance of the enemy, reached Pultneyville wilh 
aboiit 130 volunteers and militia; but, deeming 
this force too small to oppose a numerous enemy, 
within range of the guns «f his fleet, he did not 
dispute the possession of the damaged flour; but 
finding the enemy proceeding to other depreda- 
tions, he commenced a fire on him from an adja- 
eent wood, which wounded several and compelled 
Lim to re-embark, when a connonade commenced 
from the fleet on the town, without doing mate- 
rial injury, A large quantity of flour was depo« 
sited about a mile from the town, which the en- 
tmy chose to tbrego the plunder of, rather than 
Irust himself in the woeds with Gen. Swift and 
^ rifleaieii^, 



HISTORY OF TUE WAR> 22o 

III this month, Col. Campbell, (19th infantry) 
with a detachment of 5 or 600 men, and some 
seamen acting as artillerists, crossed from Erie 
to Long-Point. About 50 British dragoons sta- 
tioned there as an ont-post and guard to public 
stores, made their escap(\ The mills employed 
in manufacturing flour for tlie enemy, and some 
houses occupied as stores, were burned. "NVhen 
the party returned, without losing a man. 

The following transaction with the enemy's 
fleet on Lake Champlain, will be best explained 
by giving the following extract of a letter from 
Major-General Izard commanding the flrst, or 
division of the right, dated at his head-quarters, 
May 17. 

" On receiving notice of the enemy's proceeding 
up the lake on the 13th inst. a detachment of light 
artillery, under the command of Capt. Thornton, of 
that corps, was despatched in waggons from Burling- 
ton to Vergennes, where they manned the battery at 
the mouth of Otter Creek. At day-break, (on the 
14th) the enemy attacked with his whole force, and 
after a severe cannonade of two hours and a half, 
during which they suffered very considerably, they 
withdrew to repair damages. Yesterday they de- 
parted this place, having some of their vessels in 
tow, and are gone to their own ports. Two of their 
galleys are said to be missing. No damage was 
done on our side, excepting dismounting one gun in 
the battery, by which two men were slightly wound- 
ed." 

The Chesapeake Bay was likely, and proved, 
to continue a theatre of the enenjy's depreda- 
tions. A number of boats, carrying heavy me- 
tal, were constructed in March, 1814, on the 
eastern shore of Maryland, for the protection of 
the bay> and tke command of them given to that 



224j niSTOKT OF TUB WAR. 

intrepid alTicer, Commodore Barney. This flo- 
lilla proved a threat annoyance to tlie enemy, 
was an object of his constant attention, and was 
finally destroyed, as will be hereafter particular- 
ly detailed. 

The enemy had a skirmish on the 29th May, 
witli the Accomack militia, which reflected the 
liighest honour on the latter. Between 6 and 7 
o'clock in (he morning, the enemy entered the 
Pamgoteaque creek. They were at first most 
gallantly met by 2d T^ieut. Underbill, of the ar- 
tillery, and 6 or 7 men, who stood the fire of 
their 18 pounders, grape, musketry and Congreve 
rockets, then within 60 yards, when Lieut. Un- 
derbill, finding all further resistance utterly 
useless, and not having a sufiicient force to re- 
move the artillery, caused it to be spiked, and 
retreated. The piece fell into the hands of the 
enemy, who also destroyed some trifling build- 
ings, which had been occupied as^ barracks. — 
Finding no resistance from the point which 
Lieut. Underbill had occupied, they commenced 
their landing, and in a few minutes had from 450 
to 500 men, 200 of whom were negroes, all well 
armed, formed, and advancing from the shore, 
the negroes in front. . From the place of their 
landing, they marched about three quarters of a 
mile into the country, where they were met by a 
party of militia, not more than 25 iu number. — 
This little band stood for two hours, the whole 
force of the enemy. At this time the militia be- 
gan to collect, which the enemy perceiving, re- 
treated to his ships, and thus escaped being either 
killed or taken prisoners. During their stay onr 
land, the enemy committed several petty robbe- 
ries and shameful excesses, carrying away bacoa>. 
poultry, clothes, &c» 



HISTORY or THE WA*. 225 

Commodore Barney got under way on the 1st 
June, with his flotilla, in the Patuxent, with the 
intention to engage, or chase away the enemy. 
On approaching them, he discovered two schoon- 
ers, one a full rigged, showing nine ports on a 
side. When off St. Jerome's, he discovered a 
large ship under way, and that she had despatch- 
ed a number of boats to the aid of the schooners. 
The wind having veered so as to prove unfavour- 
able to the flotilla, the commodore made signal 
for the Patuxent, and was followed by a 74, three 
schooners, and seven barges. After doubling 
round Cedar-Point, in the mouth of the river, he 
found that gun-boat No. 1»S7, was so far astern, 
that she must be taken, or saved by an engage- 
ment. The commodore brought the Scorpion 
and gun-boat No. 138, to anchor, sent men on 
board the boat 137, to row and tow her in, and 
sijrnaled his other vessels to return and ioia hini. 
The Scorpion, and boat 138, opened a fire on a 
large schooner, and a number of barges, which 
had got ahead of the boat 137. The commo- 
dore's barges, at this time, had returned, and, 
rowing down on the enemy, gave them a number 
of shots, and then returned into port with all the 
ilofilla. Tiiis bold exploit did great honour to 
Barney and his crews. 

The enemy landed at Cedar-Point, in the even- 
ing of the -ith June, and can*ied off several ne- 
groes, and considerable stock from the planta- 
tion of Mr. Sewal. 

The enemy's squadron, being reinforced by a 
razee and sloop of war, the commodor* n>oved 
his flotilla up to the mouth of St. Leonard's 
creek. At 5, P. M. the 8th June, he perceived 
a ship, a brig, 2 stihooners and 15 barges, com- 
ing up the Patuxent; whereon the commodore 



226 HISTOBT OF THE WAK. 

moved his flotilla about two miles up the ereck,^ 
and there moored them in line abreast, across 
the channel, and prepared for action. At S 
A. M. the enemy's barges came up the creek, the 
ship, &c. were anchored at the mouth of the 
creek ^ a rocket large was advanced on the flo- 
tilla. At this time, the commodore got his bar- 
ges (13 in number) under way,, leaving the Scor- 
pion and gun-boats at anchor, and rowed down 
upon the enemy, when they precipitately sailed 
and rowed off, with all their means. The com- 
modore pursued them, until near their shipping, 
when his barges were brought back to theic 
moorings. In the afternoon the enemy came up 
the creek again, threw some rockets, and were 
again pursued, and driven out of the creek, by 
the flotilla. 

The situation of Commodore Barney, and his 
flotilla, in St. Leonard's creek, was really iiti* 
pleasant and critical. He was, however, reliev- 
ed, by a bold and successful attack on the enemy 
on the morning of the 26th June. 

The following is a copy of Commodore Bar- 
ney's report, to the Secretary of the navy : 

" Sir — This morning, at 4, A. M. a combined at- 
tack of the artillery, marine corps and flotilla, was 
made upen the enemy's two frigates at the mouth of 
the creek. After two hour*s engagement, they got 
under way and made sail down the river. They are 
now warping round Point Patience, and I am moving 
up the Patuxent with my flotilla. My Joss is acting 
midshipman Asquith, killed, and ten others, killed 
and wounded. With respect, &c. 

JOSHUA. BARNEY." 

In June, the enemy landed about 400 men, niid 
burned the tobacco warehouses at Lower Marl- 
borough, and Magruder's ferry, and also Cole^s 



HISTORY OF THE WAK* 227 

warehouse. It is impossible, ia oup present 
limits, to detail every petty and wanton act of an 
unprincipled and mean enemy ; where he could 
remove the plundered property, he removed it ; 
what he could not remove, he destroyed. In 
Calvert, near Lower Marlborough, they forced 
away with them some negroes ; also took some 
cattle and poultry. 

A person who repaired to the scene of deprcr 
dation, after the enemy had retired, wrote to his 
friend in Baltimore, ♦< It would have distressed 
you to see the tobacco at Magruder's, burning, 
as I did, this evening. Eleven hundi^ed hogs- 
heads, nearly all consumed, and ^hout four lum- 
dred at Lower Marlborough, where they took a 
schooner (Capt. David's) and loaded her." 

The enemy performed one exploit, which, if 
not tarnished by the barbarous use he made of 
conquest, would have left him one instance of 
victory not petty. 

The enemy appeared in gi^eat force in tlie 
Chesapeake, about the middle of August, 181K 
More than 50 of his vessels entered the Patux- 
ent, and landed about 5000 troops and marines, 
chiefly about Benedict, 40 miles southeast of the 
city of *Vashington. The force, at the disposi- 
tion of Gen. Winder, who had been appointed to^ 
the command of this district, was unfortunately 
inadequate to defend the city, and it fell into the 
power of the enemy. The entire force of every 
description which could be collected to oppose 
the enemy, did not exceed 5000 men; these, 
however, w ould have been sufficient for the pur- 
pose, had they all acted with equal firmness. 
Of these several hundreds arrived after the bat- 
tle commenced, and many after the retreat had 
been ordered. The force actually engaged, was 
less than 2000. 



^28 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

On the 20 til, Col. Munroe, who proceeded the 
previous day, with Col. Thornton's troop of 
horse, to reconnoitre the enemy, reported that 
the enemy had landed in force. Capts. Caldwell 
and Tilghman, with their commands of cavalry, 
were sent in the afternoon of this day to annoy 
the enemy in his advance, and remove such sup- 
plies of provisions as lay in his route. On the 
22d, the British flankers approached the ivood- 
yard, 12 miles from the city? where Gen. Winder, 
with his main hody, was posted, — The line of 
battle was formed by the American troops, but 
the enemy filed ojff to the left. At 9 o'clock. 
Commodore Barney caused his flotilla to he de- 
stroyed, and he proceeded with his men to take 
post in front of the enemy. 

On the evening of the 23d, Gen. Winder's 
head-quarters were at Battalion Fields, within 
S miles of the city, and a short distance from 
Bladensburg. At 1 o'clock, on the 24th, the 
army was posted on the right of Bladensburg, 
about half a mile distant from the village. The 
artillery, from Baltimore, supported by Major 
Pinckney's rifle battalion, and a part of Captain 
Doughty 's, from the navy yard, were in advance, 
to command the pass of the biidge at Bladens- 
burg. Soon after 1 o'clock, the enemy appear* 
ed, advancing toward the bridge over the east- 
ern branch. When they reached the bridge; 
which they did in solid column, the artillery 
opened a warm fire on them, and the riflemen, 
and a regiment of militia, were soon engaged. 
Before 2 o'clock, the enemy advanced so close 
on the Baltimore volunteers, as to force them 
to retreat, bringing with them their artillery 
and arms, except one piece, which was lost by 
the unruliness of the horses. The retreat was 



HISTORY OE THE WAR, 2:25 

not the effect of cowardice, for no men could 
behave with more honour to themselves. While 
they fought, they made a galling impression on 
the enemy, and when forced to yield before 
numbers vastly superior, they would, no doubt,, 
have yet sought a place from whioh to triumph 
in a contest so handsomely began, but they were 
not properly supported. The right and centre 
of Stansbury's brigade, consisting of Lieutenant 
Colonel Ragan and Shuler's regiments, gene- 
rally gave way, and fled in disorder, nor could 
they be rallied, with the exception of about 40 
men, and a part of Captain Shower's company^ 
both of whom, even thus deserted, made a gal- 
lant but ineffectual stand. Col. Ragan, in his 
great efforts to rally his men, was wounded 
and taken prisoner. The .5th Baltimore regi- 
ment, under Lieut. Col. Sterrett, being the left 
of Gen. Stansbury's brigade, still stood their 
ground, and, except for a moment, when part of 
them recoiled a few steps, remained firm until 
ordered to retreat. 

The reserve, under General Smith, of the 
District of Columbia, with the militia, of the 
city and Georgetown, with the regulars, and some 
detachments of Maryland militia, flanked on 
their right by Com. Barney and his men, and 
Col. Beal, maintained the contest with great ef- 
fect, until overpowered by numbers. Barney 
and his gallant men had just gained the ground 
from a station near the navy yard, and opened 
from three 18 pounders, a lire, which for the 
time it lasted, and considering the means, was 
perhaps the most destructive and active that 
has ever been experienced. The brave Barney 
fell severely wounded, into the hands of the 
enemy. Kis men fought, under his orders, ur- 
u 



230 HISTOEY OF THE WAR. 

ill tlie enemy reached nearly to the muzzles of 
the guns ; nor (lid they retire until ordered to do 
so, after every hope of victory vanished. The 
enemy treated the Commodore with that courte- 
sy and attention, which his splendid merit could 
not fail to inspire. 

The battle being novir over, after continuing 
more than an hour. Gen. Rosi who commanded 
the land force, and Admiral Cockburn, who com- 
manded the seamen and marines, entered the 
city with a part of their forces. And now be- 
gan a scene, which, in the opinion even of a sa- 
vage, would disgrace the characters while living, 
and, after death, consign to eternal infamy, the 
names of these two commanders. Never will 
barbarism and the fate of Washington be coupled 
in history, without being accompanied by the 
names of Ross and Cockburn. The destruction 
of private property wouW be in character with 
the conduct which disgraced the British arms in 
the Chesapeake and elsewhere. The triunrph- 
ant entry of the marauders into the capital of 
an infant republic, gave them an opportunity 
of proving the respect in which they held the 
arts, sciences, and literature. " They," to use 
the words of President Madison*s proclama- 
tion, <* wantonly destroyed the public edifices, 
having no relation in their structure to ope- 
rations of war, nor used at any tinte for mili- 
tary annoyance; some of these edifices being 
also costly monuments of taste and of the arts, 
and others, depositories of the public archieves, 
not only precious to the nation, as the memori- 
als of its origin, and its early transactions, but 
interesting to all nations, as contributions to the 
general stock of historical instruction and poli- 
tical science." With the public buildings, the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 231 

national library was destroyed. Cockburn at- 
tended, in person, to the destruction of* the print- 
ing materials, in the office of the National Intel- 
ligencer. A few private buildings were burned. 
The navy-yard, with all its shipping and stores* 
including a new frigafe and sloop of war, were 
destroyed, previous to its occupation by the ene- 
my. The British army retired in the night of 
the 25(h, in prudent hurry, and with studied si- 
lence, leaving several of tiieir wounded behind, 
and some of their dead unbiiried. The Ameri- 
can loss was stated by General Winder, to be be- 
tween 30 and 40 killed, from 50 to 00 wounded, 
and about 120 taken prisoners. <•' From the best 
intelligence," says the general, *^ there remains 
but little doubt, that the enemy lost, at least, 
'*0O killed and wounded, and of these, a very un- 
usual portion killed." 

Fort Warburton having been deserted by the 
U. S. troops, commanded by Captain Dyxon, 
and consequently destroyed by the enemy, the 
latter advanced towards Alexandria, the civil 
authority of which, submitted to the most dis- 
graceful terms of capitulation, by which the city 
was given up to plunder. The enemy carried oif 
I'h vessels, laden with flour, tobacco, cotton, 
groceries, and a variety of goods, taken from 
the private stores. 

A series of the most daring exertions were 
made by Commodores Rodgers, Porter and Per- 
ry, with their seamen, and some of the Virginia 
militia, to prevent the escape of the enemy with 
his booty, but he got oif, with some loss, taking 
the plunder with him. Terms, similar to those 
accepted by Alexandria, were offered to George- 
town, which the latter indignantly rejected, and^ 
escaped being plundered. 



%^^Z lllSTOliX OF THE WAR. 

Tke enemy alteinpted to justify bis predatory 
^varfare in the Chesapeake, and elsewhere, by 
professing, that he acted in retaliation of exces- 
ses, said by hij£), to have beeo eoinmitied by 
the armies of the Uiiited St.Ar s, in Canada. — 
Nothlog, however, eculd be farther from truth. 
The cciiduet of the republican aripies could, by 
510 fair construction, justify the barbarities of 
the enemy? and it was v/ell known, that the rob- 
lieries and (lestruetion of private property and 
buildings, particularly in the vicinity of the 
C/hesapeake, as^d its tributary streams, had, in 
many instances, preceded those said to have beea 
eommUled by the Anierieans. 

The enemy, probably emboldened by his suc- 
cess at Washingion, projected a descent on, and 
of coi^rse, the phnidering and burn'r.g the "City 
of Baltimore. Ihe moveiuents of the epcmy 
having led to a suspicion of his design. General 
Samuel Smith, tiie revolutionary hero and de- 
lender of Mud-fort, made some early disposi- 
tions to repel an invasion, if such should be at- 
te^npted. 

Gen. Striker was detached, on the evening of 
the lltli September, with a portion of his bri- 
gade, on the North-point-road. Major Randal, 
of the Baltimore couaty militia, having under 
his command, a light corps of rillemen, and mus- 
ketry, taken from General Stansbury's brigade, 
and the Pennsylvania volunteers, was detached 
to the mouth of Rear- creek, with orders to co- 
operate with Gen. Striker, and to check any 
landing which the enemy might attempt in that 
quarter. 

On Monday, the 12th, the enemy landed be- 
tween 8000 and 9000 men, at North-point, 14b 
miles from Baltimore, the land force under com- 



HISTOflY OF THE WAR. 333^ 

Miand of Gen. Ross, the seamen under Admiral 
Cockburn. Gen. Striker had, that morning, 
taken a good position at the junction of the 
roads, leading from Baltimore to the North- 
point, having his right flanked by tlie Bear-creek, 
and his left by a marsh. Here he waited the 
approach of the enemy, having sent on an ad- 
vance corps, under the command of Maj. Heath, 
of the 5th regiment. «* This advance," says 
Gen. Smith, in his report, " met the enemy, and 
after some skirmishing, it returned to the line, 
the main body of the enemy being at a short 
distance in the rear of their advance. Between 
2 and 3 o'clock, the enemy's whole force came 
up and commenced the battle, by some dischar- 
ges of rockets, which were succeeded by the 
cannon from both sfdes, and soon after the ac- 
tion became general along tlie line. Gen. Strik- 
er gallantly maintained his ground against a 
great superiority of numbers, during the space 
of an hour and twenty minutes, when the regi- 
ment on his left (the 51st) giving way, he was 
under the necessity of retiring to the ground in 
his rear, where he had stationed one regiment 
as a reserve. He here formed his brigade; but 
the enemy not tbinking it advisable to pursue, 
he, in compliance with arrangements, fell back 
and took post on the left of my entrenchments, 
and half a mile in advance of them." 

The following extracts, from Gen. Smith's 
report, will best explain the further movements 
of the respective armies. 

" About the time Gen. Striker had taken the 
ground just mentioned, he was joined by Brig. Gen. 
Winder, who had been stationed on the west side of 
the city, but was now ordered to march with Gen» 
Douglas's brigade of Virginia militia, and the U. S. 
dragoons, under Capt. Bird, and take post on the left 



2S4^ HISTORY 01? THE ^VAE. 

of General Striker. During these iTfiovements, Vm 
brigades of Generals Stansbury and Foreman, the 
seamen and marines under Com. Rodgers, the Penn- 
sylvania volunteers, under Cols. Cobean and Find- 
ley, the Baltimore artillery, under Col. Harris, and 
the maritime artillery, under Captain Stiles, man- 
ced the trenches and the batteries — ail prepared to 
i^ceive the enemy. We remained in this situation 
during the aight. 

" On Tuesday, the enemy appeared in front of 
my entrenchments, at the distance of two miles, on 
the Philadelphia road, from whence he had a full 
view of our position. He mai*oeuvred during the 
morning towards our left, as if with the intention 
of making a circuitous march, and coming down on 
the Harford or York roads. Generals Winder and 
Striker were ordered to adapt their movements to 
those of the enemy, so as to bafile this supposed in» 
tention. They executed this order with great skill 
and judgment, by taking an advantageous position, 
stretching from my left across the country, when the 
enemy was likely to approach the quarter he seem- 
ed to threaten. This movem.ent induced the en- 
emy to concentrate his fcrces (between one and two. 
o'clock,) in my front, pushing his advance to within 
a mile of us, diiving in our videttes, and showing 
an intention of attacking us that evening. I imme- 
diately drew Gens. Winder and Striker nearer to 
the left of my entrenchments, and to the right of the 
«nemy, with the intention of their falling on his 
right or rear, should he attack me ; or if he declin- 
ed it, of attacking him in the morning. To tliis 
movement, and to the strength of niy defence, which 
the enemy had the fairest opportunity of observing, 
I am induced to attribute his retreat, which was 
commenced at half past one o'clock on Wednesday 
siiorning. In this he was so favoured by the extreme 
darkness, and a continued lain, that we did not dis- 
cover it until day-light. 

*« I have now the pleasure of calling your atten-. 
%wn to the braye commander of Fort M* Henrj', Maj. 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 2o3 

Armistead, and to the operations confined to that 
quarter. The enemy made his approach by water 
at the same time that his army was advancing on 
the land, and commenced a discharge of bombs and 
rockets at the fort, as soon he got within range 
of it. The situation of Major Armistead was pecu- 
liarly trying — the enemy, having taken his position 
such a distance, as to render offensive operations on 
the part of the fort entirely fruitless, whilst their 
bombs and rockets were every moment falling in 
and about it — the officers and men, at the same time 
entirely exposed. The vessels, however, had the 
temerity to approach somewhat nearer — they were 
as soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, 
whilst the enemy on land was retreating, and whilst 
the bombardment was most severe, tv/o or three 
rocket vegsels and barges succeeded in getting up 
the Ferry Branch, but they were soon compelled to 
retire, by the forts in that quarter, commanded by 
Lieut. Newcomb, of the navy, and Lieut. Webster, of 
the flotilla. These forts also destroyed one of the 
barges, with all on board. The barges and battery 
td the Lazaretto, under the command of Lieut. Rutter, 
of the flotilla, kept up a brisk, and it is believed, a 
successful fire, during the hottest period of the 
bombardment." 

It was impossible for veteran? or the most ex- 
perienced troops, to act with more firm disci- 
pline, or cool courage, than the citizcDs of Bal- 
timore, and the troops engaged, did on this oc- 
ciision, vihh the exception already mentioned. 
A pursuit ol* tlie enemy was attempted, without, 
however, doing liini much injury. The troops 
^vere so exhausted, with three days and nights 
fatigue, that they could do little more than pick 
up a few stragglers. A line of defences thrown 
ap by the Americans from Back River to Hum- 
phries' Creek, on the Patapseo, were used by the 
Baemy to protect his emharkati^!?. 



236 HISTOBY OF THE WAR. 

As a measure necessary to the takiHg of Bal- 
timore, Admiral Ccckbiirn sent, what he relied 
on as a competent force to take Fort M*Henry, 
situated on a point of land about two miles from 
the city. The enemy's vessels were ranged on 
the 12th, at a respedahle distance, in front of 
the works. At an early hour, on the 12th, six 
bomb, and some rocket vessels, commenced the 
attack, but at such a distance as to have little 
effect. A vast many very heavy bombs and 
rockets were thrown from the shipping, and an- 
swered pro forma from the fort, the Lazaretto, 
battery, and barges. This noisy play lasted un- 
til near 3 F. M. when the enemy dropped nearer 
the battery. The firing now became more fre- 
quent, and soon became tremendous; but the en- 
emy finding that the nien in the fort could hit a& 
well as fire, soon slipped their cables, and drew 
off to their former distance, from which they 
continued the bombardment. 

Favoured by a dark night, one or two of the 
CTiemy's bomb-vessels, and several barges, with 
1200 chosen men, passed the fort at about one 
o'clock in the morning of the 14th, and pro- 
ceeded np the Patapsco. to attack the town in 
the rear, and probably with a view to effect a 
landing. From their new station, they com- 
menced a very warm throwing of bombs and 
rockets, but were repaid with such rigour and 
effect, that the screams of their wounded could 
be beared in the midst of a roar of arms, that 
made the houses in the city shake, for nearly 
an hour and a half. About three o'clock the en- 
emy retired, much crippled, to his former re- 
spectful distance, when he again commenced the 
bombardment, and continued it until day-light, 
when h€ finally withdrew. The entire duration 



HISTORY or THE WAR* ^^37 

of the bombardment was little short of 24 hours. 
The loss of the enemy, on board his vessels, can- 
not be ascertained, but >rcis undoubtedly great ; 
that in Fort M^Henry was astonishingly sniaii, 
consisting of 4 killed, and about 20 wounded.— 
Maior Armistead commanded the fof t A party 
of Com. Rodgers' crew was posted at f ort C<)v- 
ington ; Barney's flotilla men were stationed at 

the city battery. 

The enemy's retreat was attended with moi - 
tification and disappointment, ^en. Ross, the 
destroyer of Washington, was killed ; and, at 
least 800 men, killed, wounded, and «^jssinp--- 
The entire American loss did not exceed 20 kill- 
ed, 90 wounded, and 47 missing. ^ 

The enemy was at Chaptieo m October. 1 he 
following particulars of the excesses committed 
at that place appeared in the Alexandria Her- 
ald, signed Robert Wright. 

« I passed through Chaptieo shortly after the ene- 
mv left it, and I am sorry to say, that their conduct 
would have disgraced Cannibals ; the houses were 
torn to pieces, the well which afforded water for 
the inhabitants, was fi"^^ 7' ^"^' 7^^.1^%^1'^^ 
worse, the church, and the ashes of the dead, shar- 
ed equally bad or worse fate. Will you believe me, 
when I tell you that the sunken graves were con- 
verted into barbacue holes 1 1 1 The remaming glass 
of the church windows broken, the communion ta- 
ble used as a dinner table, and then broken to 
pieces I Bad as the above may appear, it dwindles in- 
to insignificance, when compared with what follows : 
the vault was entered, and the remams of the dead 
disturbed. Yes, my friend, the windmg sheet was 
torn from the body of a lady of the first respecta- 
bility, and the whole contents of the vault entire- 
] V deranged ! ! T* 



238 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Soon after leaving Chaptico, the enemy visit- 
eel St. Inigoes, in St. Mary's county, Maryland, 
This was the habitation of a missionary, and 
the scife of a Roman Catholic church. Nothing 
could be expected but the furniture of the priest, 
and piate of the church. Both were taken, 
feather-beds, sheets, blankets, curtains, spoons, 
knives, forks, &c. were taken away or destroy- 
ed ; the sacred vestments were thrown about, 
the vessels, consecrated to the service of God, 
prophaned, the altar stript naked, the taber- 
nacle carried off, and the blessed sacrament 
borne away in the hands of those sacrilegious 
wretches. Some few articles were restored at 
the instance of the British officer, who would 
probably wish to see the entire restored, but 
he could not command them ; << they are," said 
he, <^ a set of ruffians.'' Some other articles, 
belonging to the church, were restored in a few 
days afterwards. 

The following circumstance proves how dear- 
ly the enemy gains a victory, when opposed by a 
force, however small. 

On the evening of the 5th November, Capt. 
Gordon, naval commander at Norfolk despatch- 
ed 2 tenders, and i boats, off Black River, for the 
purpose of conveying several craft, then lying ifi 
that river, and bound to Norfolk. The vessels 
were, unfortunately, separated during the night; 
the boats, owing to a rough sea, returned to Nor- 
folk. The two tenders, Fra!\klin and Despatch, 
were separated from each other. 

The commander of the Despatch, finding, in 
the morning, that he had drifted in a eahn, 
near the enemy's ships in Lynnhaven, and that 
they were maniiing their boats, to attack him, 
made signal to the Franklin, and the boats ly- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 239 

ing under Old Point. The boats joined the 
Despatch; and the enemy's boats, after ex- 
chfuiging a few shots, and a breeze having 
sprung up, gave over the chase, and directed 
their attention to the Franklin, that lay nearly 
becalmed up the bay. The enemy came up 
with the Franklin, about 10, A. M. when the 
firing commenced. During one hour and a half, 
the Frasikiin's crew, consisting of Mr. Ham- 
mersley, master's mate, who commanded; one 
midshipman, (Mr. Cook;) two master's mates 
and pilots, and 31 men, maintained a gallant de- 
fence against a tender and 14 barges and boats 
of the enemy. The tender and two heavy 
launches, made several attempts to board, but 
were as often beaten off. At length, at half 
past 11, the Franklin was carried, being board- 
ed at the same moment by the crews of 5 heavy 
boats. 

The peace in Europe having relieved the 
ships and seamen of England from any other 
engagement, except the war against the United 
States, it was supposed, that an American ship 
would not dare longer to venture on the ocean, 
or sail on the lakes. Every American port was 
to be blockaded, every sea-port town to be burn- 
ed or destroyed ; the frames of frigates were to 
be transported from England, and suddenly put 
together, and launched on the lakes. The vio- 
lent threats were heard, the expected legions 
looked for, with a coolness, on the part of the 
Americans, which evinced courage ; but with a 
preparation that evinced a determination to de- 
fend their homes, their families, their country, 
and liberty. 

Two armed launches and four barges of the 
enemy carrying about 2^0 men, entered Connec- 



f1 



240 History ov the war. 

liciit river, in the evening of the 7th April, and 
arrived at Pettipang- Point, about 4 o'clock in the 
morning of the Sth. It was quite a surprise on 
the few inhabitants, who had no means of resist- 
ance. They immediately landed and burned all 
the vessels at the wharves, and on the stocks, 
except a brig, a schooner, and two sloops, which 
they carried down the river, on their retiring, 
after 10 o'clock; but the wind shifting, the^^ 
burned all except the schooner, and not being 
able to proceed, they came to anchor a short 
distance below Pettipaug, where they lay until 
night, then burned the schooner, and departed, 
without interruption, or any attempt to annoy 
them, except that a few guns were fired on them 
after they had passed the mouth of the river, to 
which they returned three cheers, and passed oftV 

During the Sth, the militia collected to the 
number of about 1000, with six field pieces ; an 
ofBeer, with 150 sailors and soldiers, from New- 
Ijondon, had also arrived. Gen. Williams, under 
authority of the State of Connecticut, assumed 
the command. Nothing seemed more easy than 
to capture the enemy, yet no attempt was made 
to do 60, unless a summons te surrender can be 
so considered. Much ccftsure was then attribu- 
ted to the general for his dilatory conduct, and 
it seems not to have been hitherto accounted for. 
About 25 vessels were destroyed, many of them 
large and valuable. 

Com. Hardy, of the Kamilies 7i, addressed a 
letter in May, to the Bi'itish agent for prisoners 
of war in Boston, stating that he had arrived in 
the bay, with an adequate force to carry the 
blockade into efiect, and requesting him to make 
it known to the neutral cotisuIs and agents in 
that town and state, that the blockade would be 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 241 

rigorously enforced, agreeably to Ihe proclama- 
tion for the same. 

The following copy of a letter from Commo- 
dore T.ewJs, commanding the United States' flo- 
tilla at New-York, to the secretary of the navy, 
dated May 29, 1814, will show that the Yankees 
determined to have some trade, notwithstanding 
the mighty force of the enemy on the ocean. 

" Sir — I have the honour to inform you, that on the 
19th I discovered the enemy in pursuit of a brig un- 
der American colours, standing for Sandy-Hook.— I 
ordered a detachment of 1 1 gun-boats to proceed to 
sea, and pass between the chase and the enemy, by 
which means to bring him to action, and give oppor- 
tunity to the chase to escape, all which was effected ; 
the enemy, after receiving my fire, bore away — and 
the brig in question entered the harbour, proved to be 
the brig Regent from France, with a very valuable 
cargo. And on Monday the 23d, I engaged the ene- 
my before New-London, and opened a passage for 
40 sail of coasting vessels ; the action lasted three 
hours, in which the flotilla suffered very little ; No, 
6 received a shot under water, and others through 
the sails — we have reason to believe that the enemy 
suffered very great injury, as he appeared unwilling 
to renew the action the following morning ; my ob- 
ject was accomplished, which was to force a passage 
for the convoy. There are before New-London 5 
seventy-four's, 4 frigates, and several small vessels, 
the latter doing great injury, from their disguised 
character and superior sailing. I have the honour to 
assure you of my high respect, 

J. LEWIS. 

As soon as the engagement ceased, the flotilla 
came to anchor before the harbour of New -Lon- 
don, within gun-shot of the enemy, with a view 
of renewing the action in the morning, when we 
found that the enemy Lad collected all Lis force. 



24f2 HISTORY OF THE WAU. 

in number seven sliips and several small vessels^ 
in consequence of which great accession of force, 
the project of renewing the action was abandon- 
ed, and signal was made to proceed up Sound, 
whither the enemy pursued as far as Faulkner's 
Island. 

Capt. Sawyer, of the smack Resolution, from 
Stonington, informed, tliat, in the gun-boat bat- 
tle, one shot passed tlirough the mainsail of the 
Sylph, and another cut away her ensign ; that 
onp shot passed through the bow of the Maid- 
stone, one through her foremast, and one into 
her hull ; and that on the day after the engage- 
ment, a number of men from these vessels were 
buried on Fisher's Island. 

A British squadron, consisting of a 7* gun 
ship, several frigates, and smaller vessels, with 
numerous launches, spread terror along the 
coast of Massachusetts, and succeeded in doing 
considerable injury to coasting vessels. About 
200 men landed, on the 13th May, at Wareham, 
in Massachusetts, and burned 12 or 13 vessels, 
valued at about 20,000 dollars. They also set 
fire to a stocking factory, which was extinguish- 
ed by the citizens, before much injury was done. 

Capt. Allen, of the schooner William & John, 
of Sedgwick, Maine, was bound to Boston with 
a cargo of lumber. Capt. A. put into Dyers- 
creek, on the 20th May, but finding himself 
chased by the barge of the British schooner 
Bream, he hailed the barge, when she reached 
within about 50 yards, but received no answer, 
Capt, Allen then ordered the barge to « keep 
offy The captain, discovering the men in the 
barge about to fire a swivel in her bow, ordered 
his men to fire, and take good aim. Four shots 
were fired in suecessiou, and the captain had ta- 



HISTORY OF THE WAlt, 2i3 

ken his aiaj, Avhen one of the enemy cried out, 
»• I- II give up to you;'^ and the barge was in- 
stantly surixndered to Capt. Allen. Of seven 
men, who were in the harge, two were killed, 
and two wounded. 

After the cap!ure of the barge, the British 
commodore sent a ihig of truce to Capt. Allen, 
with propositions, which were rejected. After, 
however, the exchr»nge of four flags, it was a- 
greed, liiatin consideration of Capt. Allen's giv- 
ing up tlie British prisoners on parole, the com- 
mander of the Bream was to give Capt. Allen 
S90 in cash, retiun two American prisoners be- 
longing to Goldsbor»ugh, give up a Chebacco 
boat, with the property on board of her, valued 
at Sroo, and Capt. Allen to retain the twelve> 
eared barge, with all her araiament, consisting 
01 one swivel, six muskets, five cutlasses, six car- 
tridge-boxes, some blue Uglits, a compass, one 
trumpet, and a quantity of canister and grape 
ft>iot, all cf which Capt. Allen values at ^300. 

Soon after this transaction, a boat captured 
by the Bream schooner, was sent into Mount- 
Desert, with seven Englishmen on board, to cut 
out a vessel, the crew of which, on their ap- 
proach, fled to the shore, and were joined by sev- 
eral of the inhabitants, armed — having conceal- 
ed themselves among the rocks or bushes, they 
opened a Are on the ev-emy, killed three of them, 
wounded two, and compelled the others to sur» 
render. 

The enemy entered the harbour of Seituate^ 
(Mass.) in June, in consequence, as he stated, of 
haf ing been fired at from a signal piece of can- 
son, near the light-house, and set fire ta several 
tdssels. 



t^^ HISTOKY OF THE WAR. 

Two barges, from the British frigate Nymph, 
went into Squain, and destroyed the schooner 
Dijigeiice, laden with lime. The crews threat- 
ened, that if the captain attempted to extinguish 
the flames of the JDiligence, they wouhl destroy 
the house on the point ; which being attempted, 
Ihey fired a twelve pound shot through it, arid 
returned and effected the destruction of the 
schooner. 

On the llth July, Eastport was taken posses- 
sion of by the enemy, in the name of his Britan- 
nic majesty, and, as afterward appeared, was 
claimed as being part of the British territory, 
by the terms of the treaty of 1783. The British 
force consisted of 200t) men. The American 
garrison of 59 men, including 11 sick, Avas com- 
manded by Major Putnam. The inhabitants 
were offered the alternative to take an oath of 
allegiance to the king, or to depart within seven 
days. A great proportion, perhaps more thaa 
t vo-thirds, took tlie oath. This place remained 
in the enemy's possession to the end of the war ; 
and, as will appear by reference to the treaty of 
peace, was to continue in possession of the Bri- 
tish until the dispute relative to territory could 
be settled by commissioners, to be appointed for 
that purpose. 

Eastport is on an island, called Moose, on the 
west side of Passamaquoddy-bay ,* the island is 
about five miles long, and one mile broad, con- 
taining about tOOO inhabitants. 

On the 9th August, at 5 P. M. the Ramilies 
74, Paetoliis 38, a bomb- ship, and a heavy brig, 
arrived off Stonington ; and a flag was sent on 
shore, with a note, of which the following is a 
^opy J 



mSTOUT Olt THE WAK, 2^5 

" To the Magistrates of Stonington, 
" Gentlemen — One hour is allowed you, from the 
receipt of this eommunication, for the removal of the 
unoffending inhabitants. 

THOMAS M. HARDY." 
Stonington was in no state of defenf^e adequate 
to resist tlie enenny. The few men in the place 
hastened to collect ammunition^ some ran te the 
bcUtery, which consisted of two 18 pounders and 
a four pounder, with a slight breast work; ex- 
presses were sent to New-London and other pla- 
ces. At eight o'clock, the attack was commenc-' 
ed, by a discharge of shells, from the bomb- ship, 
and congreve rockets from several barges. This 
fire was continued until midnight, without injur- 
ing a single building or inhabitant. 

During tlie night, the volunteers and militia 
had assembled in considerable numbers, and 
were disposed of in the manner best calculated 
to resist any attempt of the enemy to land. At 
(lawn of day, the eneqfiy began to throw rockets> 
from vessels which had taken stations on the 
east side of the town, out of range of the batte- 
ry. An 18 and a four pounded were drawn to a- 
point of land from which the enemy could be 
reached, and, in a few minutes, the barges were 
compelled to move off. During this time, th©^ 
brig worked up and came to anchor within less 
than half a mile of the battery. The ammuni- 
tion on shore, being expended^ the few men, who 
were at the battery, were compelled to r^tire^ 
having first spiked the guns* 

For an hour and a half, the enemy condnueC 
to fire on the town, without the least opposition 
being attempted or praeticablci A fresh supply 
of ammunition l>eing, by this time obtained, the 
^^^nt of the 18 pounder was drilled, when. a fire 
V- 2. 



246 HISTORY OF THE WAE. 

was opened on the enemy's brig, until at three 
o'clock, she slipped her cable, and hauldcd oflT, 
being evidently much injured in her hull and 
spars. 

Soon after this lime, a considerable body of 
militia arrived, and Gen. Isham had taken the 
command. 

A flag was sent from the inhabitants (without 
the concurrence of Gen. Isham) to the British 
officer, informing him that the <^ unoffending in- 
habitants" had been removed, and wishing to 
know, if he meant to complete the destruction of 
the town. The deputation received from Capt, 
Iliirdy a written reply, that the bombardment 
should cease, in ease the inhabitants would en- 
gage that no torpedoes should be fitted out at Sto- 
nington, and that the family of Mr. Stewart, late 
British consul at New-London, would be sent on 
board. 

Th€se terms could not be complied with.— 
The proposal respecting torpedoes was consider- 
ed degrading, nothing of the kind having ever 
been attempted at Stonington ; the second, re- 
specting Mrs. Stewart and children, was referred 
to the proper authority. 

The enemy continued to negotiate, for the pur- 
pose of getting Mrs. Stewart on board, until 3 
o' clock on the 11th, when the bombardment again 
commenced, and was continued until night. On 
Friday morning, the attack was commenced and 
continued with great warmth, from nearly all 
the enemy^s ships and launches, until near noon, 
when it ceased ; and, rvbout four o'clock, P. M. 
the enemy, findiug that a great force were as- 
sembled, for the protection of the town, finally 
withdrew ; and, on Saturday morning, weighed 
3i&£hor;, and proceeded up Fisher's Soundo 



HISTORY OP THE WAR. £i7 

During the several attacks, not a man was 
killed, and but 5 ov 6 wounded. Two or three 
houses were destroyed, 8 or 10 much damaged, 
and about 40 partially injured. More than 300 
shells and carcasses were thrown into the vil- 
lage. 

The additional disposable military and naval 
force, which the peace in Europe left at the 
command of (he eneujy, the use which he threat- 
ened to make, and did actually commence, or 
prepare to make of it, produced an union of ac- 
tion and sentiment among the people of Ameri- 
ca, some discontented or rather traitorous per- 
sons excepted, and these so comparatively few, 
that they excited but a sentiment of contempt, 
and owed their personal safety to their utter ina- 
bility ta do material injury. The citizens of 
New- York, the first commercial city in the union, 
gave an example of political forbearance toward 
each other, and of attachment to their country,, 
which had a salutary influence on every other 
part of the nation. 

At a general meeting held in the Park in that 
eity, the 10th August, 1814, the following, to- 
gether with several other patriotic resolutions,, 
were unanimously adopted : 

" Resolvedf that the citizens, here assembled, will^ 
to the last extremity, defend their city. 

« Resolved, that we will unite ourselves in arms 
with our brethren of the country, and, on the first 
approach of the enemy, make it a common cause. 

« Resolved, that it be Tecommended to the citizens 
generally, to meet as soon as may be practicable 
with convenience, in their respective wards for the 
purposes of electing discreet and sufficient commit^- 
tees to promote the execution of the following ob- 
jects i. 



248 HISTORY 05 THE WAR. 

«^ 1. Tg complete the voluntary enroimeot of per- 
spns, exempted by law from military service. 

« 2. To encourage the enrolment of sea-faring cit- 
izens, for services, in the harbour, or as artillerists. 

" 3. The enrolment of citizens for voluntary la- 
bour on the public works. 

" Resolved^ that we will endeavour to promote 
concord and harmony, and will discountenance all 
attempts to weaken the patriotic efforts of good citi- 
zens." 

From this moment, party feuds were, in a 
great measure, suspended; newspaper editors 
excluded all acrimonious political discussions f 
the committee appointed to carry into effect the 
resolutions of the general meeting, was selected 
from the most respectable of the citizens, with- 
out the least respect to the political party to 
which the persons selected, belonged. 

The plan of the enemy wa* to dismember the 
union. A command of the North River would 
tend much to this end. The possession of the 
ei<y of New- York was a desirable object, in 
whatever point it might be viewed. The mea* 
sures of defence and precaution, taken at New- 
York, probably prevented the intended attack oil 
that city ; the subsequent attempt to gain pos- 
session of the posts near Lake Champlain, leaves 
little room to doubt the enemy's intention. Had 
that invasion succeeded, we should have soon^ 
heard of an invasion on the sea-board, either at 
New- York, or some place to the eastward of it, 
and an attempt to form a junction of the two in- 
vading armies. 

For several months, the citizens of New-Y^'ork 
supplied more than 1000 men daily, who laboured 
voluntarily and without pay, at the fortifications | 
%nd several thousands from the adjacent eousse 



HISTORY OF THE WAD, 249 

ties, and from the state of New-Jersey, contri- 
buted their aid, until a line of fortifications were 
raised on the heights of Brooklyn and Harla?m, 
sufticient to oppose any probable force that could 
be employed by the enemy. — It would be impos- 
sible to do justice to the zeal that animated the 
citizens, and it cannot be expected to copy, or 
even notice the many editorial observations which 
appeared in the public prints; zeal overflowed, 
so that it became necessary to limit the offered 
services to a certain number daily, and it often 
jiappcned, that services could not be received un- 
til several days after being tendered. The fol- 
lowing, from the Richmond Compiler, is given, 
because its shortness does not actually render its 
insertion incompatible with our limits. 

*< To a patriotic mind, it is truly exhilerating, to 
read the New- York papers, and see the generous, 
ardent zeal that actuates the inhabitants of that great 
emporium of American commerce. At the first 
signal of breaking ground fov the defence of the 
city, the whole population seem to have caught the 
spark of patriotic energy, to have burst the shackles 
of apathy, and set to the continent an example of so- 
cial and public spirit, which we trust may be emulat- 
ed through every part of our land. By wards and 
sections of the city, by tribes and centuries^ by con- 
stituted bodies and private companies, by trades, by 
professions, and by domestic parties, offers of person- 
al service and contributions in money, have been 
made and accepted : and that great mart of commer- 
cial wealth and enterprize, on which the enemy have 
so long keot a ioTiging eye, is already inaccessible, 
invulnerable ; the pride and glory, and palladium of 
the continent. Who would not be a citizen of New- 
York ?" 

On the 1st September, the British entered tha 
Penobscot river, Avith about iO sail of vessels. 



5250 HISTOHY or THE WAR. 

and several thousand men, and took possession of 
Castine, the small garrison of whicli fled, after 
blowing up the fort. They next sent 600 men 
to Belfast, which submitted. The following day 
they proceeded up the river to Hamden, Avhere jjl 
the Adams frigate laj. Capt. Morris made eve- *' 
ry possible disposition to resist the enemy, but 
finding his limited force inadequate to that end, 
he spiked his guns, burned his stores, blew up I 
the ship, and, with his crew, escaped. The Bri- 
tish governor immediately announced, that the 
country, lyin.;^ between the Penobscot river and 
Passamaquoddy bay, would be considered as a 
part of the Britisli territory. Measures were 
also taken to fortify Castine, and establish per- 
manent commercial regulations. It was estima- 
ted that 120 vessels were taken in the Penob- 
scot. 

While the enemy was coupling petty conquest 
with cowai^dice and cruelty, along the sea- board, 
the American army of the interior was phicking 
from the brows of imported invincibles the lau- 
rels won on the theatre of late European con- 
flicts. 

The brave General Jacob Brown, who had in 
the last year signalized himself by the defence 
of Sackett's Harbour, was appointed to the com- 
mand of the army on the ]\iagara frontier. 

On the 2d July, General Brown made disposi- 
tions for an intended attack on the British Fort 
Erie ; and issued orders to the troops for cross- 
ing the river. The army passed the Niagara 
river on the morning of the .Sd. The enemy was 
perfectly unapprized of the intended attack ; 
Gen. Scott, who led the van, was on shore be- 
fore the enemy's picket discovered the approach. 
The fort beio^ approached on the right and lefty 



HISTORY ©F THE WAB, 351 

and the Indians in the woods, in the rear. Gen, 
Brown summoned the garrison to surrender, 
which, after a short time allowed for considera- 
tion, was agreed to. At six o'cloek tlie garri- 
son marched and stacked their arms ; 170 regu- 
lars, including seven officers, were sent across 
the river. 

On the morning of the 4th July, Gen. Scott, 
with his hrigade, and a corps of artillery, ad- 
vanced toward Chippewa. After some skirmish- 
ing with <he enemy, he selected a judicious posi- 
tion for the niglit; his right resting on tho 
liver, and a ravine in front ; at 11 at niglst, Gen. 
Brown joined him with the reserve under Gen. 
Bipley, and a corps of artillery, under Major 
Hindiiian — a field and hattering train were also 
hrought up,- Gen. Porter arrived in the morning, 
with a part of the New- York and Pennsylvania 
volunteers^ and some of the warriors of the Six 
Nations. 

Early in the morning of the 5th, the enemy 
attacked the pickets ; hy noon he showed him- 
self on the left of the army, and attacked one 
of the pickets, as it was returning to camp. — 
Captain Treat, who commanded the picket, re- 
tired, leaving a wounded man on the ground - 

Captain Biddle, of the artillery, promptly as- 
sumed the command of this picket, led it hack 
to the wounded man, and brought him off the 
field. 

General Brown instantly ordered Capt. Treat 
to retire from the army, and advised^ that his 
name, and that of another officer, should be 
struck from ihe roll of the army. This circum- 
stance was noticed in a note to the first edition 
of this work, without the following necessary 
addition, which did not, and could not, have then 
eomc to the k nowledge of the compiler. 



253 HI3T0R¥ OF THE WAR. 

. Capt. Treat demanded a court of inquiry; it 
was not granted j but a Court Martial w^s or- 
dered at Fort Erie. The left division of the ar- 
my marched to Sackett's Harbour soon after, and 
the court was dissolved. 

Capt. Treat immediately proceeded to Sack- 
ett's Harbour, by permission from Maj. Gen. 
Izard, and requested another Court Martial. 
Maj. Gen. Brown, on the 5th of April, 1815, 
after the repeated solicitations of Capt. Treat, 
issued an order, organizing a court, consisting of 
Col. M^Feely, president; Lieut. Col, Smith, 
Maj. Croker, Maj. Boyle, Maj. Muliany, Maj. 
Chane, Capt. White, members; Capt. Seymour, 
supernumerary ; Lieut. Anderson, 13th regi- 
ment, judge advocate. 

The court met, and proceeded on the trial the 
6th April, 1815, at Sackett's Harbour. They 
elo&ed the investigation on the Sth May, when 
Capt. Treat was honourably acquitted. 

The following is a copy of the decision of the 
court : 

<« After mature deliberation on the testimony 
adduced, the court do find the accused JOSEPH 
TREAT, of the 21st infantry, not guilty of the 
charge or specifications preferred against him, 
and do honourably acquit him.'* 

The sentence of the court was approved by 
Maj. Gen. Brown, and promulgated on the 28tli 
June, at Sackett's Harbour. 

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon Gen. Porter 
advailced with the volunteers and Indians, in 
order to induce the enenjy to come forth. — 
Gen. Porter's command met the light parties of 
the enemy in the woods. The enemy was driven, 
and Porter pursued until near Chippewa, where 
he met their whole column, in order of battle. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 253 

The heavy firing induced a belief that the en- 
tire force of the enemy was in motion, and pre- 
pared for action. Gen. Scott was ordered to 
advance with bis brigade, and Towson's artil- 
lery. The general advanced in the most prompt 
and officer-like manner, and, in a few minutes, 
was in close action with a superior force of the 
enemy. By this time, Gen. Porter's command 
had given way, and fled in disorder, notwith- 
standing the great exertions of the general to 
rally them. This retreat left the left flank of 
Gen. Scott's brigade greatly exposed. Captain 
Harris was directed, with his dragoons, to stop 
the fugitives, behind the ravine, fronting the 
American camp. Gen. Ripley, with the 21st 
regiment, which formed part of the reserve, 
pass^ed to the left of the camp, under cover of 
the wood, to relieve Gen. Scott, by falling on 
the enemy's right flank, but, before the 21st 
could come into its position, the line command- 
ed by Gen. Scott, closed with the enemy. Maj. 
Jessup, commanding the left flank battalion, 
finding himself pressed in front and flank, and 
his men falling fast around him, ordered his 
battalion to '' support arms, and advance ,•" the 
order was promptly obeyed, amidst the most 
deadly and destructive fire. Having gained a 
better position, he poured on the enemy a fire 
so galling, as caused them to retire. The en- 
emy's entire line now fell back, and continued to 
retreat, until at the sloping ground, descending 
toward Chippewa, when they broke, and fled to 
their works. 

Gen. Brown, finding the pursuit of the troops 

checked by the batteries of the enemy, ordered 

up his ordnance, in order to force the place, 

by a direct attack, but was induced, by the rc- 

w 



254f HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

port of Maj. Wood, and Capt. Austin, who re- 
connoitered the enemy's works, the lateness of 
the hour, and the advice of his officers, to order 
the forces to retire to camp. The American 
troops, on no occasion, hehaved with more gal- 
lantry than on the present. The British regu- 
lars suffered defeat from a numher of men, prin- 
cipally volunteers and militia, inferior in every 
thing but courage, to the vanquished enemy ; 
and the gallant Brown, a woodsman, <♦ a soldier 
ol yesterday," put at defiance the military tac- 
tics of the experienced Maj. Gen. Riall. 

The following is a copy of a letter, written by 
Gen. Brown, on the field of battle, directed to 
the secretary of war. 

" Sir — Excuse my silence. I have been much 
engaged. Fort Erie did not, as I assured you it 
should not, detain me a single day. At 1 1 o'clock, 
■on the night of the 4th, I arrived at this place with 
the reserve, General Scott having taken the position 
about noon, with the van. My arrangements for 
turning and taking in the rear the enemy's position 
cast of Chippewa, was made, when Major General 
Hiall, suspecting our intention, and adhering to the 
rule, that it is better to give than to receive an at- 
tack, came from behind his works about 5 o'clock 
in the afternoon of the 5th, in order of battle. We 
did not baulk him. Before 6 o'clock his line was 
broken, and his forces defeated, leaving on the field 
four hundred killed and wounded. He was closely 
pressed, and would have been utterly ruined, but for ^ 
the proximity of his works, whither he fled for shelter. 
The wounded of the enemy, and those of our own 
army must be attended to. They will be removed 
to Buffalo. This, with my limited means for trans- 
portation, will take a day or two, after which I shall 
advance, not doubting but that the gallant and ac- 
complished troops I lead, will break down all oppo- 



KISTOET OF THE WAR. 255 

sition between me and Lake Ontario, when, if met 
by the fleet, all is well — if not, under the favour of 
heaven, we shall behave in a way to avoid disgrace." 

The battle of Bridgwater, fought on the 25th 
July, was bloody, and well contested on both 
sides. The enemy was composed of 5000 men, 
of the best troops, commanded by Gen. Riall, 
and otliers, the best British officers. It is due 
to them to record, that they fought well, but 
they fought against freemen, and were defeated. 
Opposed to the bravest slaves in the world, of 
equal force, this British army would have con- 
quered. The Americans were fewer in number 
than the enemy ; they were men, most of whom 
had yet to learn military tactics, but who had a 
country f now staked in a contest, which the pre- 
sent battle might materially effect, or, in its con- 
sequence, decide. 

On the 25th, Gen. Brown's army was encamp- 
ed above Chippewa, near the battle ground of 
the 5th. The brigade under Gen. Scott, mov- 
ed past Chippewa, and halted at Bridgwater, 
in view of Niagara falls. At half past 4-, P. M, 
the battle was commenced by the enemy. The 
enemy, being numerically superior to the Ame- 
ricans, he was able to extend his line so as to 
attempt to fl. nk. In order to counteract the 
apparent view of Gen. Hiall, he was fought in. 
detachments — he was charged in column? Gen. 
Scott being at the head of his troops in almost 
every charge. General Scott maintained his 
ground for more than an hour, before the re- 
serve under Gen. Ripley, and the volunteers, 
under Gen. Porter, were brought fully into ac- 
tion. The ground was obstinately contested 
until 9 o'clock in the evening, when Gen. Brown 
decided to &torm a battery, which the enQmy 



256 lllSTOUT 0^ THE WAR. 

liad on a commanding eminence. Col. Miller 
commanded on this enterpiize, which was so re- 
solntelv entered on, that the enemy, unable to 
withstand the charge, retired to the bottom of 
the hill, and abandoned his cannon. The enemy 
now gave way, and was pursued some distance. 
The American army then betook itself t© the 
securing of prisoners, and bringing off the 
wounded. 

AVhile the army was thus employed. General 
Drummond arrived with a reinforcement to the 
enemy, when lie., unexpectedly to the Ameri- 
cans, renewed the battle, with a view to recov- 
er his cannon. The army, having quiekly 
formed, resisted the attack w ith courage ; and, 
after a close engagement, the enemy was re- 
puked, as he was in tw o other similar attempts. 
The American army having effected the remo- 
val of nearly all the wounded, retired from the 
ground a little before midnight, and returned to 
eamp. 

The warmth and zeal with which this action 
was maintained, was the most obstinate and de- 
termined. For two hours, the discharge of 
musketry was so constant, as to produce almost 
an uninterrupted blaze of lire ; nor w as it in any 
period of this action, much less warm. W'el- 
iington's " invicibles'' had just arrived from 
Europe, and Drummond resolved that they 
should not only maintain their character, but 
maintain it in a manner that would make the 
most desponding impression on the brave, but 
raw recruits of the republic. The Americans 
not only withstood the onset, but repelled and 
punished it. A fine moon-light night favoured 
equally the operations of both armies; they 
fought loo near to render cannon generally ser- 



irr»TO£r oe the waju 2^r 

viceable, being often within half pi=5tol ihot of 
each other, and sometimes Mingled together, — 
The charge of CoL MilJer exceeded any thisg 
experienced by the British soldiers, even in En- 
rope. Thrice his men \*ere repulsed with great 
slaughter. For a time he was deserted by a 
regiment of infantry^ they were rallied; a 
fourth charge was made, and succeeded. The; 
Americans could not be driven, nor withstood^ 
determined not to be overthrown, even by supe- 
rior numbers, they seemed resolved to erusk 
whatever foe opposed them. Had they been 
conquered, they would yet deserve honour; as 
victors, they covered theraselvei with glory. — 
They lost a howitzer; the rider being shot o5^ 
the horses carried it full gallop into the ranks 
(»f the enemy; they also lost apiece of cannon, 
which was too much advanced, and from which, 
the men, except two, were shot. For want of 
horses, they were compelled, to leave to the en- 
emy most of the cannon which were taken from 
him, with such bravery, and at such expence. 

On the morning after the battle, the Ameri- 
cans, under Generals Ripley and Porter, reeoa- 
noitered the enemy, who did not show any dis- 
position to i^ncw the contest, and then burned 
tlie enemy's barracks and a bridge at Chippewa^ 
after which they returned to Fort Erie. 

The enemy was believed to have lost between. 
1200 and 1300 men, including Maj. Gen. Riall^ 
who was wounded, and, wiih 18 other officers^ 
and 150 non-commrssioBed oriicer* and privates, 
taken prisoners. The Americans lost 1 major, 
1 adjutant, 5 captains, 4 subaltems, 10 sergeants, 
10 corporals, liO privates — total killed, 171.— 
i major-general, 1 brigadier-general^ 2 aids-de- 
camp. 1 brigade-uiajor, 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant- 
w 2 



258 HISTOKY 0¥ THE WAR, 

colonel, 4 majors, 1 adjutant, 3 quarter-masters* 
1 i>aj-master, 7 captains, 32 subaiterns, 517 non- 
commissioned officers and privates — total ^vound- 
ed, 572; missing, 117 — total, StiO. 

The British force engaged, amounted by their 
own confession, to 4500 men, mostly or wholly 
regulars, beside a host of Indians ; the American 
force did not exceed 2800 men, consisting in a 
great proportion of the militia of Pennsylvania 
and New- York. Gen. Brown, in his official re- 
port, particularly notices the brave and prudent 
conduct of Generals Ripley, Porter, and Scoit ; 
Colonels Miller, Dobbin, of New-York, "Wilcox, 
and Gardener ; Majors M*Farland, Hindman, 
Jessup, Wood, of the Pennsylvania militia, Jones, 
M*Ree, and AVood, of the engineers ; Captains 
Towson, Ketchum, Biddle, and Ritchie ; Lieut. 
E. B. Randolph ; Aids-de-Camp Worth, Smith, 
Austin, and Spencer. Some of these brave men 
fell in action, and nearly all of tliem were cover- 
ed with wounds. 

Gen. Brown received two wounds, but contin- 
ued to command until the action ended. The 
general was obliged, hy the severity of his 
woimds, to retire iProm the command, which de- 
volved on Gen. Ripley, Gen. Scott being also 
disabled, by wound, from continuing in com- 
mand. 

The army continued on the Canada side, seem- 
ingly resolved to maintain itself against an ene- 
my, which was receiving frefjuent reinforcements, 
and had, after a little time, become formidable, 
in numbers and equipments^. 

The enemy, after recovering the effects of the 
battle of Bridgwater, moved up toward the 
American army, at Fort Erie,* and frequent 
slvirmishes easued, in which the enciny was gen- 



HISTORY t»F THE WAR. 251> 

ei'ally worsted. On tlie 3(1 August, about 500 
regulars, under Col. Tut'ker, crossed below 
Black Rock, but wei-e met by 200 riflemen, and 
a part^' ol* volunteers, under Major Morgan ; and, 
after a long contest, were defeated, and compel- 
led to re-cross the river. Brigadier General 
Gaines, arrived at Erie the 4th August, and as- 
sumed the command, during General Brown's 
illness. 

On the 15th August, the enemy, under the im- 
mediate command of General Drummond, at- 
tempted to storm Fort Erie ; the result was 
communicated in a letter ffom General Gaines, 
to the seeretarj' of war, of which the following 
is a copj^ : 

« Head-Quarters, Fort Erie, U- C. 
Aug. 15, 7 A. M. 1814. 
Dear Sir — My heart is gladdened, with grati- 
tude to heaven, and joy to my country, to have it in 
my power to inform you that, the jjallant army un- 
der my command, has this morning beaten the en- 
emy, commanded by Lieut. Gen. Drummond, after a 
severe conflict of three hours, commencing at two 
o'clock, A. M. They attacked us on each flank-^ 
got possession of the salient bastion, of the old Fort 
Erie, which was regained at the point of the bayo- 
net, with a dreadful slaughter. The enemy's loss, 
in killed and prisoners, is about 600 ; near 300 kil- 
led. Our loss is considerable, but I think not one- 
tenth as great as that of the enemy, I will not de- 
tain the express to give you the particulars. I am 
preparing my force to follow up the blow.'* 

The assault was of that desperate nature, that 
was calculated to rub away the stains of former 
defeats, to resuscitate the sinking charms of aa 
assumed invineibiiity, and save the British gene- 
ral from contempt, and perhaps, disgrace, Th^ 



26& MISTORT OF THE WAK. 

projection was grand ; the means of accomplish- 
ing it, great, and relied oh for its efficiency | the 
attempt to execute, was supported with an ^- 
thusiasm in the officers, and a mechanical obedi- 
ence in the men. which promised, and almost se- 
cured success. The invincibles were, however, 
destined to experience another defeat ; and the 
Americans added another wreath to the laurels 
wi(h which they were already so plentifully 
blessed. The enemy was largely supplied with 
the means generally used on such occasions, 
pikes, bayonets, spears, scaling ladders, &c. Re- 
pulsed and repulsed, he rallied and returned to 
the attack ; he carried a bastion, and, by his 
conduct, evinced, what was to be the fate of the 
republicans, if vanquished. Lieut. M<Dougal, 
being severely wounded, in defending the bastion, 
demanded quarter, it was refused. Gen. Drum- 
mond crying out, *< give the damned Yankees no 
quarter." M'Dougal defended himself until shot 
down by a pistol. The bastion was re-taken by 
the greatest display of courage and exertion. 

This assault was preceded by a cannonade and 
bombardment, which commenced at sun- rise on 
the morning of the 13th, and continued until 8 
o'clock, P. M. ; was re-commenced on- the 14thf 
at day-light, and continued until night — the as- 
sault was commenced at half past two on the 
morning of the 15th. The result was the defeat 
of the assailants, accompanied with a loss of 222 
men killed, 17* wounded, and 186 prisoners — to* 
tal 582, exclusive of a number (supposed 200) 
killed in the water, and carried off by the cur- 
rent. The Americans lost 26 killed, 91 wound- 
ed> and 11 missing — total 128. 

The enemy continued in the neighbourhood of 
Fort Erie, strengt^ieniog and extending hh 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 261 

works and calling in reinforcements, with a view 
to the ultimate occupation of the fort, and the 
capture or destruction of the garrison. The en- 
emy's works were constructed in a field surround- 
ed by Avoods. Their infantry was formed into 
three, bridges of about 1500 men each. One of 
these brigades, with a detail from their artillery, 
was stationed at their works (these being but 500 
yards distant from Old Fort Erie, and the right 
of General Brown's line.) The Americans had 
already suffered much from two of the enemy's 
batteries ; and a third was about to be opened. 
Gen. Brown, having recovered of his wounds, 
resumed the command, on the 2d September, 
The situation of the army was extremely critical. 
-As the only mode of relieving himself, he deter- 
mined to storm the batteries, destroy the can- 
non and roughly handle the enemy's brigade on 
-duty, before those in reserve would be brought 
into action. 

The enemy's works were very strong, regular, 
and executed with a studied intricacy, consisting 
of a breast-work, connecting their batteries, and 
of successive lines of entrenchments in the rear, 
covering the batteries and enfilading each other ; 
and the whole obstructed by abbatis, brush, and 
felled timber. It was calculated to resist, and 
throw into confusion, the most experienced as- 
sailants, and led to many severe contests with 
the bayonet. 

Directions were given, by General Brown, to 
march at noon, on the 17th September, to the 
intented assault. General Foi'ter commanded a 
detachment of volunteers, riflemen, regular in- 
fantry, and a few dragoons. These moved from 
the extreme left of tlie American position upon 
the enemy's right, by a passage opened through 



262 HISTORY OF TH« WAR. 

the woods for the occasion. Gen. Miller station^ 
ed his command in the ravine between Fort Erie 
and the enemy's batteries, by passing them by 
detachments through the skirts of the wood.— ^ 
The 21st infantry, under Gen. Ripley, was post- 
ed as a corps of reserve, between the new bas- 
tions of Fort Erie. <« About 20 minutes past 

3 P. M." says Gen. Brown, in his official report, 
" I found the left column, under the command 
of Gen. Porter, which were destined to turn the 
enemy's right, within a few rods of the British 
entrenchments. They were ordered to advance 
and commence the action. Passing down the ra- 
vine, I judged, from the report of musketry, 
that the action had commenced on our left ,• 1 
now hastened to Gen. Miller, and directed him 
to seize the moment, and pierce the enemy's en- 
trenchments, between batteries No. 2 and S.— 
My orders were promptly and ably executed, — 
Within 30 minutes after the first gun was fired, 
batteries No, 3 and 2, the enemy's line of en- 
trenchments, and his two block-houses, were in 
our possession. Soon after, battery No. 1 was 
abandoned by the British. The guns in each 
were spiked by us, or otherwise destroyed, and 
the magazine of No 3, was blown up." 

The enemy's loss exceeded, from the most 
probable account, 1000 men, including 2 majors, 

4 captains, 4 lieutenants, 1 ensign, one assistant- 
surgeon, 4 staff- sergeants, 19 sergeants, 17 cor- 
porals, 1 drummer, and 332 privates. The A- 
mericans lost in killed, wounded and missing, 
511. General Davis, of the militia, was killed. 
The action lasted more than two hours, and was 
warmly contested for about one hour. In the 
course of the action, the entire of the enemy's^ 
force was brought into aotion, consisting princi 



HISTORY or THE WAK. 263 

pally of regulars uuder command of Lieut. Geo. 
JOrummoml. So satisiied was the British gene- 
ral of his inability to contend, even aided by his 
veterans, against the raw soldiers that formed 
the American army, that he broke up his camp, 
during the night of the 21st, and retired to his 
entrenchments behind the Chippewa. ♦< Thus," 
says General Brown, " one thousand regulars, 
and an equal portion of militia, in one hour of 
close action, blasted the hopes of the enemy, 
destroyed the fruits of 50 days labour, and dimin- 
ished his effective force, one thousand men at 
least." 

An expedition under the command of Lieut. 
Col. G. Croghan, was set on foot in July, 1814; 
the chief object of which, was the reduction of 
Fort Mackinac, which had been taken by the en- 
emy in the early part of the war. The expedi- 
tion left Fort Gatroit (head of Straits St. Clair) 
on the 12th. Owing to a want of pilots acquaint- 
ed with the unfrequented part of the bay, the in- 
tended course of the vessels was somewhat alter- 
ed ; they anchored at St. Joseph's on the 20th. 
After setting fire to the fort of St, Joseph, which 
seemed not to have been recently occupied, a de- 
tachment of infantry and artillery, under Major 
Holmes, was ordered to Sault, St. Mary's, for 
the purpose of breaking up the enemy's esta- 
blishment at that place. A few hours before the 
arrival of Major Holmes at the Sault, St, Mary's, 
the northwest agent was apprized of his approach, 
and succeeded in escaping with a large quantity 
of goods. A large quantity were, however, found 
secreted in the woods, on the American side. — 
These were claimed by the agent of John John- 
son, an Indian trader ; but Major Holmes de- 
clined giving them to Mr. Johnson, " because," 



264 HISTORY OF THE WA]^.* 

as Major Holmes observetl in his letter to Lieut. 
Col. Croghan, ''^ it was good prize bj the mari- 
time law of jmiions, as recognized in the English 
courts, (witness the case of Admiral Rodnej ad- 
judged by I^ord Mairsfield.) Further, because 
Joimson has acted the infamous part of a trai- 
tor, having been a citizen and a magistrate of 
the Michigan territory, before the war and at 
its commencement, and now discharging the 
functions of magistrate under the British gov- 
ernment. Bscause, his agents armed the In- 
dians from his store-house at our approach ; 
and lastly, because, those goods, or a considera- 
ble part, were designed to be taken to Michili- 
mackinae.'' 

The expedition reached Miehilimackinac on 
the i26th, where the enemy was found so strong- 
ly posted on a height, overlooking the old fort, 
that his reduction by stopm, with the small 
force under Col Croghan, seemed very doubtful. 
It was the coloners wish, at all hazards, to dis- 
embark in some tavourable position, from which 
he might be able to annoy the enemy by gradual 
and slow approaches, under cover of his artille- 
ry, and where, by fortifying himself, he might 
force the enemy to attack him in his strong po- 
sition ; or draw his Indians and Canadians (his 
most efficient and only disposable force) from the 
island. 

Being informed, by old residents of the island, 
where a favo;?rable position might be obtained, 
he effected a landing on the 4th August, and 
advanced to the field where an encampment was 
intended, when he received intelligence that the 
enemy \va« Jkhead, of which he was soon convin- 
ced, by '^ discharge of shot and shells from a 
battery of 4 guns. The colonel, hereon, chang- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 265 

ed his positiou, (which was then two lines, the 
militia forming the front,) hy advancing Major 
Holmes's battalion on the right of the militia, 
thus to outflank him, and bj a rigorous effort to 
gain his rear. IJefore this movement could be 
executed, a fire from some Indians, posted in a 
thick wood, proved fatal to Major Holmes, and 
severely wounded Captain Desha, the next in 
rank. This misfortune threw that part of the 
line into confusion, from which it was found im- 
possible to recover it. As the only method left 
of annoying the enemy, Col. Croghan order- 
ed a charge to be made on his front by the regu- 
lars. The enemy was thus driven back into the 
woods, from which an annoying fire was kept up 
by the Indians. Lieut. Morgiin brought up a 
light piece to relieve the left which was suffer- 
ing from a galling fire ; the excellent practice of 
this piece brought the enemy to fire at a longer 
distance. 

Col. Croghan finding the position, from which 
tlie enemy was driven not tenable, he determin- 
ed not to continue to expose his men to a danger, 
from which no good result could be expected. — 
He therefore ordered a retreat to the shipping. 

Sailing-master Champlin, whose vessel, the 
Tigress, fell into the hands of the enemy, and 
who, with his crew, were prisoners at Michili- 
inackinac, arrived at Erie in November. Capt. 
Arthur Sinclair, commanding the United States' 
naval force on the upper lakes, states, in a letter 
to the secretary of the navy, on the authority of 
sailing-master Champlin, that " the coiwluct of 
the enemy to our prisoners (the crew of the Ti- 
gress) thus captured, and the inhuman butchery 
of those who fell into their hands, at the attack 
#f Mackinack, has been barbarous beyond a pa- 

X 



26B HISTORY OF THE WAK« 

i-allel. The former have heen phindered of al- 
most every article of elothing they possessed ; 
the latter had their hearts and livers taken out, 
"which were actually cooked and feasted on hy 
the savages, and that too in the quarters of the 
British officers, sanctioned by CoL M'Dougall." 

The British army, under Gen. Drummond, 
l>eing considerably reinforced, there appeared an 
absolute necessity to strengthen that under Gen, 
Brown, and to make such a diversion or co-ope- 
ration, as wouM draw off the enemy from the 
JBeighbourhood of Fort Erie, or compel him to 
surrender. A vigorous attack on Kingston must, 
if made, produce the first of these effects ; the 
throwing of a large force into the rear of Gen. 
Drummond, might have the latter effect. Gen. 
Jzard marched from Plattsburgh, about the 1st 
September, with a large force, which formed a 
Junction with Gen. Brown, about the 12th Octo. 
ber; thus having, unfortunately, occupied more 
than 40 days in performing a journey of 253 
miles by land, and a voyage of 90 miles by water 
— total distance from Plattsburgh to Black Bock, 
S43 miles. 

The slow movement of Gen. Izard's army, 
gave to the enemy the time necessary to equip 
the new ship St. Lawrence, of 90 guns, lately 
built at Kingston. The British fleet, with this 
big ship, appeared off Niagara, the 2d Novem- 
ber, and gave to the enemy the command of lake 
Ontario, by which Gen. Drummond could be 
reinforced or taken off, if necessary. It also 
enabled the enemy to threaten Sackett's Har- 
bour ; and Gen. Brown was ordered to the de- 
fence of the Harbour, leaving Gen. Izard in com- 
mand at Erie. 



BISTORT Ot THE WAR« %6T 

The campaign in the neighbourhood of Niaga- 
ra must, from the lateness of the season, he 
drawing to a close ; it appeared to Gen. Izard, 
that his army could not remain in safety at Erie, 
the fort \yas therefore destroyed, and the army 
crossed to Buffaloe, where it took up winter quar- 
ters. 

The army left at Plattshurgh, after the march 
of Gen. Izard, was very weak ; the command 
devolved on Gen. Macomb. The enemy em- 
braced this opportunity for making an incursion 
into the state of New-York, on the side of Lake 
Champlain, with a view to secure a strong posi- 
tion at Crov/n Point, or Ticonderoga, previous 
to going into winter-quarters ; and, ultimately, 
to co-operate with an army, that was to invade 
the state of New-York, or Connecticut, on th© 
sea-board ; and thus eilect the great object of 
the British government, the political separation 
®f the eastern from the southern states. 

General Sir George Prevost, commanded the 
British land forces, destined for this scrviccv 
consisting of four brigades, each commanded by 
a major-general of experience 5 a light squadron 
of dragoons, and an immence train of artillery, 
and all the engines of war ; the entire amount^ 
ing to 14,000 men. While the troops advanced 
by land, the fleet, apparently superior to the 
American, advanced by water. To resist this 
overwhelming force, Gen. Macomb had but lijOO 
effectives. In aid of this small force, the militia 
was hastily assembled. 

The British governor- general entered the ter- 
ritory of the United States, on the 1st September^ 
J 814, and fixed his head-quarters at the villag©*. 
of Champlain ; from which* he commenced an 
attack, b^ promises and threats, on the eittzens 



^68 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

of the United States, previous to the more seri- 
ous attacks which were to be simultaneous by 
land and water, and were eftcctually to over- 
throw all opposition on both. 

On the 2d, the British army marched from 
Champlain; on the 5th, it appeared, in full 
force, before the village of Plattsburgh. No 
sooner was the intention of the enemy discover- 
ed, than the militia was called out: those of fhe 
county of Clinton assembled on the 2d Septem- 
ber, near the village of Chazy, where they took 
a position, under command of Lieut. Col. Miller. 
On the following day. Gen. Wright took a posi- 
tion, w 1th his brigade, seven miles in advance of 
Plattsburgh. On the advance of the enemy. 
Col. Appling, who was placed with his command 
oa the lake road, fell back to Dead-creek, where 
he posted himself, and impeded the approach of 
the pursuers so much by blocking up the passage, 
that the enemy was compelled to alter his course 
toward the Beekmantown road. On the morning 
of the 6th. the advance of the enemy attacked 
tlie militia, about 700, under General Meoers, 
and a small detachment of regulars commanded 
by Major Wool. Unfortunately, apart of the 
militia broke and fled, the remainder, together 
with the regulars, made a bold and masterly op- 
position, retiring slowly and regularly before a 
large force for six miles, when they were rein- 
forced within a mile of Plattsburgh by a Captain 
J^onard and a few men with two pieces of ar- 
tillery. This force, by taking advantage of the 
cover of a stone wall, made a stand and checked 
the progress of the enemy, until overpowered by 
superior numbers, it retired, as before, slowly, 
dealing death among the enemy, until it reach- 
ed the south bank of the Saranac, where the 



HirroKY OF THE WAIl. 269 

jfUrsuU of the enemy was effectually olieckedo 
and he forced to retire. From this time until 
the morning that was to decide the fate of Platts- 
burgh and perhaps of Albany, continual skir- 
mishing was kept up, each party preparing itself 
for the bloody conflict. The enemy occupied an 
extent of about three miles, he erected seven 
heavy batteries and fully supplied himself with 
all the usual means of attack. The Americans 
Avere engaged in annoying the enemy and 
strengthening their own works. The 11th was 
jBxed on for the attack by land and water. At 
o'olock in the morning of that day, the enemy's 
flotilla on Lake Champlain, passed Cumberland- 
head. It consisted of 1 frigate of 32 guns, 1 
brig of t2 guns, 2 sloops of 10 guns each, and 
several galleys. The American fleet lay in Cum- 
berland bay, opposite Plattsburgh. The enemy, 
superior in vessels, guns, and number of men^ 
advanced with that confidence, which his supe- 
riority of force, inspired ; and the bloody con- 
flict began. Cora. Thomas Macdonough com- 
manded the American flotilla. Undaunted, he 
waited the attack, trusting in the heroism of a 
little band, which seemed determined to conquer^, 
or die. For two hourg and fifteen minutes, the 
contest was maintained, with an obstinacy which, 
while it added to, or rather perfected the re- 
nown already acquired by the American seamen^ 
did not disgrace the vanquished.' M<adesty seems 
to be a quality highly possessed by the naval 
commanders in the United States. The follow- 
ing laconic letter, written to the secretary of the 
navy, by Com, Macdonough, is at once a proof 
of modesty, and a notice of success. 

"The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a 
3ignal victory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of 



270 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

one frigate, one brig, and two sloops of war, of the 
enemy." 

The American galleys were about pursuing 
those of the enemy, that were making their es- 
cape, but, it being discovered, that all the vessels 
were in a sinking state, it became necessary to 
annul the signal to chase, and order the men 
from the galleys to the pumps. " I could only,'* 
observed Com. Macdonongh, " look at the ene- 
my's galleys going off in a shattered condition, 
for there was not a mast in either squadron that 
could stand to make sail on ; the lower riggjng 
being nearly all shot away, hung down as though 
it had been just placed oyer the mast-heads." — 
»^ The Saratoga," continued the commodore, 
*• \\2if\ fifty-jvce round shot in her hull; theCoa- 
liauce, (enemy's vessel) one hundred and Jive,'* 

The following is a comparative view of the 
number and strength of the vessels engaged, and 
liie loss on board them. 



AMERICAN. 








Guns.Men.Kiiled.] 


'Vou?: 


Ship Saratoga 


26 


210 


23 


29 


Brig Eagle 


20 


120 


13 


20 


Schooner Ticonderoga 


17 


110 


6 


6 


Sloop Preble 


7 


30 


2 





Ten Gun-Boats 


16 


350 


3 


3 


Total 


86 


820 


52 


58 


BRITISH. 








Frigate Confiance 


39 


300 


50 


60 


Brig Linnet 


16 


120 


20 


30 


Chub (formerly Growler^ 


11 


40 


6 


10 


Finch (formerly Eagle) 


11 


40 


8 


10 


Thirteen Gun-boats 


18 


550 









Total 95 1050 84 110 



HISTORY OH THE WAR. ^71 

At the same houi' that the fleets engaged, the 
enemy opened his batteries on the American 
forts, throwing hundreds of shells, balls and 
rockets; and attempted, at the same time, to 
cross the Saranac river, at three different points, 
to assault the American works. At the upper 
ford, he was met by the Vermont volunteers and 
New-York militia. Here a most interesting 
conflict took place; on the one side, the best 
troops of Britain, led on by her most consum- 
mate ofRcers, men and officers selected from 
those soldiers, who, under command of the 
Duke of Wellington, had acquired the charac- 
ter of « invincible," men who had conquered 
in Portugal, Spain, France, and the Indies ; on 
the other side, men not reared to arms, not 
used to battle, most of them born since their 
sires had immortalized themselves in combat 
on this same ground, the descendants of the 
•< Green Mountain-boys" and of those heroes 
Avho conquered at Saratoga, &c. The object 
of contest was great ; on it was, probably, to 
hang every future event of the war. The en- 
emy fought for the recovery of a territory ^vhich 
would make his king the most powerful prince 
in the world ; the officers looked to places of 
emolument, pensions, grants of land, titles of 
nobility, stars, garters, ribbands, plunder ; hon- 
ours and riches in a thousand shapes and forms : 
the honest American yeomen sought neither 
pay nor pecuniary reward, beyond the daily sti- 
pend of a soldier. But yesterday, they were at 
their ploughs, to-day, they grasped their rifles, 
and hurried to the threshold of their country — 
their ultimate reward was to be a conflrmation 
of the liberties entailed on them by their sires, 
% continuance of that independence they were 



2:7^ HISTORY OF THE WAS. 

elelcrmined to preserve, or not to survive. The* 
conflict was influenced hy feelings which drew 
forth the utmost exertions of both parties, and 
substituted desperation on one side, and unbend- 
ing patriotism on the other, in place of that in- 
difference or cowardice, which so often leads 
to disaster and disgrace. Several times were 
the enemy repulsed, several times did he re- 
turn to the ford; astonished at this obstinate 
resistance, from woodsmen, suddenly assembled 
©n the occasion,^ the enemy yet believed they 
must give way; again he advances, again he is 
repulsed ; astonished, eonfounded, dismayed, he 
retires : no longer invincible, he acknowledges- 
defeat — defeat from whom? Let Wellington's 
men answer; or let them send for a reply to 
the mountains of Vermont, or the wilderness 
®f New-York. At the bridge near the village, 
he was repulsed by the pickets, and the brave 
riflemen, under Capt. Grosvenor, and Lieuten- 
ants Hamilton and Riley ; and, at the bridge in 
the town, he was foiled by the guards, block- 
houses, and the Artillery of the forts, served by 
Captains Alexander Brooks, Richards and Smithy 
and Lieutenants Munford, Smith and Cromwell. 
The enemy's iire vas returned with effect fronfi 
the batteries ; by sun- set, seven of his newly 
raised batteries were silenced, and he was seen 
retiring to hi* camp. Beaten by land, and by 
water, the British governor- general withdre\5r 
his artillery, and raised the siege. Under favour 
©f a dark night, he sent off his heavy baggage,, 
and retreated" with his whole army towards Ca- 
siada, leaving hi s^ wounded in the field, and a 
vast quantity of provisions, and munitions of/ 
war, which he had not time to destroy. The- 
light troopS) Yolonteers and lullitis^ pursued) 



HISTORY OE THE WAR. 273 

liiiu on tlic following day, captnring several sol- 
diersj and covering the escape of a great niim- 
ber of deserters : bad weather prevented the 
pursuit to be continued bej'ond Chazy. Thus 
have 14^000 regulars, with the best British offi- 
cers, and the best military equipment, been bea- 
ten by a regular force of only 1500 men, and 
2500 militia and volunteers ; the militia com- 
manded by Gen. Moores, and the volunteers by 
Gen. Strong. The enemy having retired from 
republican ground, the militia and volunteers 
were dismissed. 

The official return of the loss of the Ameri- 
can regulars, amounted to 1 subaltern, 1 ser- 
geant, 1 musician, and 34 privates, killed — total 
37; 2 subalters, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 
2 corporals, 4 musicians, and 49 privates, wound- 
ed — total 62 ; total killed, wounded and missing, 
119. 

General M'Comb states the loss of the en- 
emy on the land and lake, at not less than 2500 
men. 

While glory and victory attended the armies 
of the United States, the navy continued in- 
creasing its number of victories, and private 
armed vessels carried destruction to the enemy 
in every sea. Even in the British Channel, the 
enemy felt that his thousand ships of war could 
not bring safety to his traders. Insurance to 
cross the channel, rose from a few shillings to 
five guineas (^23,75) per cent. 

In lat. 27, 47 N. Ion. 80, 9, on the 29th April, 
1814, the U. S. sloop of war Peacock, fell in 
with his Britannic majesty's brig Epervier, ra- 
ting and mounting 18 32- pound carronades, with 
128 men. The Epervier struck her colours af- 
ter an action of 42 minutes, and the loss of 8 



57* HISTOBY OF THE WAR. 

men killed, and 15 wounded. Two men were 
slightly wounded on board tbe Peacock. Both 
vessels arrived at Savannah, the prize being* 
with difficulty kept above water. The damage 
suffered by the two vessels, will be seen by the 
following extract from the official report of Capt. 
Warrington. 

<* This, (the disabling of a fore yard) with a feW 
top masts, and top-gallant back stays cut away, a few 
shot through our sails, is the only injury the Pea- 
cock has sustained. Not a round shot touched our 
hull ; our masts and spars are as sound as ever — 
When the enemy struck, he had five feet water in 
his hold, his main top-mast was over the side, his 
main boom shot away, his fore-mast cut nearly in 
two, and tottering, his fore rigging and stays shot a- 
way, his bowsprit badly wounded, and 45 shot holes 
in his hull, 20 of which were within a foot of his 
water line." 

The Epervier had 120,000 dollars in specie^ 
en board. 

The United States' sloop of war Frolic, Jo- 
seph Bainbridge commander, was captured, af- 
ter a chase by H. B. M. frigate Orpheus, of 36 
guns, on the 20th April. A court of inquiry, 
held on board the U. S. frpjate Constitution, at 
New-York, the 20th April,* 1815, gave their 
opinion, " that the same was not lost, through 
the fault, inattention or negligence of Captain 
Bainbridge." The court also reported favoura- 
bly on the conduct of the officers and crew of the 
Frolic. 

His Britannic majesty's sloop of war Rein- 
deer, was captured the 28th June, 1814, in lat. 
48, S6 N. and Ion. 11, 15 W. by the U. S. sloop 
of war Wasp, Capt. J. Blakely. The action 
Gtm^i^need at 26 minutes after 3 P. M< ; at 4^3^ 



HISTORY QV THE WAR. 27d 

MiiButcs past 3, the enemy was carried by board- 
ing. The aotion, for the short time it lasted, 
was severe, and both vessels and crews suffered 
<jonsiderably. The loss on board the Wasp, was 
principally occasioned by repelling the enemy. 
In two attempts which he made to board. The 
Reindeer mounted 16 24-pound carronades, 2 
long 6 or 9-pounders, and a shifting 12-pound 
oarronade, with a complement of 118 picked 
men, called, from their appearance, the « pride 
of Plymouth." The Reindeer was literally cut 
to pieces, and so complete a wreck, in both hull 
and rigging, that it was found necessary to de- 
stroy her. Her commander, (William Manners, 
Esq.) and 32 petty officers and seamen, were 
killed; wounded dangerously, 10 ; severely, 17 5^ 
slightly 15 — total killed and wounded, 7B, 

On board the Wasp, there were 5 killed, and 
21 wounded. Six round shot struck the hull of 
the Wasp; a 24-pound shot passed through the 
fore mast, and a considerable number of grape 
struck, but did not penetrate her sides. The 
Wasp arrived at L'Orient the 8th July. 

The Wasp sailed from L'Orient on the 27th 
August. At half past 9 o'clock, P. M. the 1st 
September, engaged a vessel, supposed to be a 
large brig of war, and forced her to strike her 
flag, at 12 minutes past 10. In a few minutes, 
Capt. Blakely discovered another brig, and pre- 
pared for action ; at S6 minutes past 102 bri^, 
in sight, when the Wasp was compelled to re- 
linquish her prize. The Wasp lost 2 men kill- 
ed, and had 1 man wounded. The enemy, af- 
ter his surrender, was heard, asking assistance, 
and said he was sinking. The enemy's vessel 
proved afterwards to be the JLvon, By the 
British details, it was acknowledged, that the 



276 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

two vessels, which came in aid of the Avon; 
were the Castiliaii and Tartarns, each of them 
of force equal to the Wasp. The Avon went 
to the bottom, after the surviving part of her 
crew was removed on hoard the other British 
vessels. The Avon was in the Delaware in 
1810; she then carried 18 32-pound carronades. 
besides bow and stern guns. 

The Essex, Capt. Porter, the smallest frigate 
in the American navy, was destined to prove im- 
mensely injurious to the enemy. Her cruise in 
the Pacific ocean has supplied ample materials 
for an interesting volume. Capt. Porter not on- 
ly protected the American shipping against the 
numerous letters of marque, which the enemy 
had sent into those seas, but rendered these 
very letters of marque tributary to his plan of 
destroying the enemy's trade, particularly in the 
fisheries. 

Capt. Porter sailed from the Delaware, the 
37th October, 1812. On his passage to Rio 
de Janeiro, he captured the British packet 
Norton, and took out of her 11,000 pounds ster- 
ling, in specie. He arrived at Valparaiso on 
the 14th March, 1813, where he obtained a full 
supply of provisions. He then ran down along 
the coast of Chili and Peru, fell in with a Pe- 
ruvian corsair, which had on board 24 Ameri- 
cans, the crews of two whale ships she had cap- 
tured on the coast ; he threw the guns and am- 
munition of the corsair into the sea, liberated 
the Americans, and afterwards re-captured one 
of the vessels, as she was entering the port of 
Lima, 

From Lima, Capt. Porter proceeded for the 
Gallipagos Islands. While among this group 
of islands, he captured the following British 



KfSTOIlY OB THE Vi'AS. 



ships, (letters of marque) employed chiefly in 
the Spermaceti whale fishery. 

Tons. Men. Guns^Pierced for 



Monte zenma 


270 


21 


2 




Policy 


175 


26 


10 


18 


Georgiana 


280 


25 


6 


18 


Greenwich 


388 


25 


10 


20 


Atlantic 


355 


24 


s 


20 


Rose 


220 


21 


8 


30 


Hector 


270 


25 


11 


20 


Catherine 


270 


29 


8 


18 


Serin gapatam 


357 


31 


14 


26 


Charlton 


274 


2J 


10 


18 


Kew.Zealander 


259 


23 


8 


18 


Sir A. Hammond 


301 


31 . 


12 


18 




3456 


302 


107 





The Atlantic received the new name of the 
Essex-Junior, was equipped with 20 guns, and 
her command given to Lieut. Downs. 

Lieut. Downs convoyed some of the prizes to 
Valparaiso ; and Capt. Porter on the return of 
Lieut. Downs, proceeded with theotlier prizes to 
the island of Nooaheevah, where he overhauled 
his ship? took on hoard a supply of provisionsj 
and sailed for the coast of Chili, on the 12(h 
December, 1813. 

Previous to sailing from Nooaheevah, he se- 
ctired his prizes under the guns of a battery, 
which he erected for their protection, and left 
the battery in charge of Lieut. Gamble, and 21 
marines, with orders to proceed to Valparaiso, 
after a certain period. A friendly intercourse 
was established with the natives ; and the island 
taken possession of, in the name of the United 
States. He arrived on the coast of Chili the 
12th January, 1814. 



278 HiSTORY OF THE WAR. 

The captain detailed Lis success in the follow- 
ing ^vords: 

" I had completely broke up the British naviga- 
tion in the Pacific ; the vessels which had not beea 
captured, were laid up, and dared not venture out. 
The valuable whale fishery there, is entirely de- 
stroyed, and the actual injury we have done them, 
may be estimated at two afid a half millions of dol- 
lars, independent of expenses of vessels in search 
of me. They have furnished me amply with sails, 
cordage, cables, anchors, provisions, medicines, and 
stores of every description ; and the slops on board 
them have furnished clothing for the seamen. We 
had, in fact, lived on the enemy since I had been in 
that sea, every prize having proved a well found 
store-ship for me. I had not been under the neces- 
sity of drawing bills on the department for any ob- 
ject and had been enabled to make considerable ad- 
vances to my officers and crew on account of pay." 

Afier arriving at Valparaiso, he found him- 
self blockaded by two British ships; the Phoe- 
be, Com. Hillyar, carrying 30 long 18-pounders, 
16 32-pound carronades, 1 howitzer, and 6 3- 
pounders in the tops, and a complement of 320 
men ; and the Cherub, mounting 28 guns, and 
having a complement of 180 men; making, to- 
gether, 81 guns, and 500 men. The force of the 
Essex was 46 guns, 40 S2-pound carronades, and 
6 long 12's, her crew amounted to 255 men. — 
The Essex- Junior mounted 20 guns, 10 18- 
pound carronades, and 10 short 6's, with only 
60 men on board. 

Capt. Porter having sought in vain to bring 
on an action with any one of the enemy, had re- 
solved on putting to sea, in the hope of outsail- 
ing thera. On the 28th of March, J 814, during 
a fresh blow of wind, the Essex parted her lar- 
board eable^ and dragged the starboard anchor 



UISTOKT or THE WAR. 278 

direetly (o sea. Finding himself in this situa- 
tion, he hoisted sail, and got under way. On 
loundina a point of land, a heavy squall struck 
the ship, and carried away her main top-mast, 
precipitating the men, who were alolt, into tUe 
sea Being chased by the two enemy s ships, 
and unable to gain his former anchorage, he rua 
close into a small bay, about three quarters of a 
mile to leeward of the battery, on the east side 
of the harbour, and let go his anchor, wrthm 
pistol shot of the shore. . , , , .^ 

It was in this situation, that his crippled ship 
and reduced crew were attacked, in a neutral 
port, contrary to the laws of nations, by two 
ships of the enemy. The Essex was carried, 
but a prize has never been bought at a dearer 
rate. The aetion lasted nearly two hours and 
a half. Tlie Cherub, from her crippled state, 
was compelled to haul off, but «o"tin«ed to hre 
at a distance from her long guns The Phffibe 
also chose, after suffering considerably, to fire 
from a distance with her long guns, while the 
Essex could not reach him with her carronades. 
There never was a ship more cut up than the 
Essex, nor that suffered more m men. Seventy 
men! including officers, were all that remained 
Xr the action, capable of doing duty, and ma- 
ny of these severely wounded. 

The enemy continued firing lor several mi- 
nutes! and killed and wounded many of the crew 
o?rh; Essex, after her colours were struck, and 
an opposite gun fired, to show that resistance 
had ceased. Capt. Porter conceiving it was in- 
tended to refuse quartex, was <>" »!?! P°"^^»J 
hoisting his colours, and selling his liie as clear 
as posfible, when the fire of «>« enemy ceased 
The Phffibe ^vas so cut up, that she wa.s, with 



28» HlST6Hy OF THE WA2. 

great difficulty worked into Valparaiso, and i% 
seemed doubtlul, even after she cauje to anchor, 
whether she could be repaired so as to enable 
her to double Cape Horn. She had eighteen 
12-pouiid shot tlirough her, below her water 
jiiie. Nothing but the smoothness of the water 
saved her from sinking. Had the Phcebe and 
Cherub dared to come boldly into close action^ 
they would have been undoubtedly defeated. — 
The enemy's loss in men cannot be ascertained, 
but must liiave been very severe. That of the 
Essex was — 

Killed, and have died since of their wounds, 58 
Severely wounded - - - . 39, 

Slightly wounded - - . - 26 

Missing -„-,-- 31 

Total - - 15i 
It was agreed between Capt. Porter and Com. 
Hillyar, that the Essex-Junior shoyld be dis- 
armed, and employed as a cartel, to bring Capt, 
Porter and his men to the United Slates, to be 
there exchanged for an equ^l number of British 
prisoners of equal rank. On the 5th July, the 
Essex Junior arrived off New- York, ard was 
overhauled by the British ship Saturn. Capt, 
Porter, judging from the conduct of the British 
officer, that he would violate the terms, under 
which the Essex-Junior had sailed, took to his 
boat; and, after rowing and sailing 46 miles> 
reached Long-Island. 

The winter season, rendering it difficult and 
dangerous for an enemy's fleet to remain on the 
American coast, to the northward of Virginiaj 
it was conjectured that his blockading squadron 
would be moved to the southward, nor was thc. 
eonjeeturc ill founded. \i was his intention to 



Hl^roRY OF raE war. 281 

effect something more permanently useful, than 
the rohhing of private proper ty.^ A general a- 
larm prevailed among the inhabitants, particu- 
larly in the cities, along the sea coast. It was 
also ascertained, that great preparations were 
making, and several thousand men collected in 
the West- Indies, with the avowed intention of 
invading some of the southern states. 

At 4 o'clock, P. M. on the 15th September, 
1814^ Fort Bowjer, on Mobile Point, was attack- 
ed by a superior British naval and land force. — 
Tha naval force was under command of Sir H. 
W. Percy, and consisted of 2 ships from 2* to 
28 guns, mounting 32 pound earronades ; 2 brigs 
fioru 16 to 18 guns, mounting 24- pound earron- 
ades, and 3 tenders. The land forces consisted- 
@f 100 marines under command of Col. Nieholls^ 
a body of Indians under command of Captain 
AVoodbine, and a battery of a 12 pounder and 
howitzer under direction of an officer of the ar- 
tillery. The American effective force was about 
120 men, of whom not more than 90 were en- 
gaged. 

At 4, P. M. the enemy's leading ship, called 
the Hermes, having approached sufficiently near, 
the guns of the battery opened upon her : at 20 
minutes past 4, the engagement became general. 
Soon after this time, the British land forces 
were put to flight, by discharges of grape and 
eannister, from a 9 pounder. At 5, P, M. the 
guns of the Hermes were silenced, and she drift- 
ed out, and grounded within 600 yards of the 
battery, where she continued to be fired on, un- 
til night. At sun-set the other vessels cut their 
cables, and stood off, under a tremendous fire 
from the battery. At a quarter past 7, the 
Y 2 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 

Hermes appeared to be on fire ; at 10, her ma- 
gazine blew up. 

It was learned, from deserters, that 150 of the 
crew of the Hermes were lost, that 85 were kill- 
ed or wounded on board the other ship, and sev- 
eral on board the other vessels. The American 
loss was 4 killed and 5 wounded. Major Wil- 
liam Lawrence commanded at the fort. On the 
16th the enemy's fleet stood to sea. 

The appearance of 50 or 60 vessels of the en- 
emy, in the mouth of the Mississippi, rendered it 
almost certain, that the city of New-Orleans 
would be an object of attack. The advance of 
The enemy was announced, in general orders, on 
the 14th December, 1814, by Gov. Claiborne | 
and, on the 18th, Gen. Jackson reviewed the 
militia, preparatory to meeting the enemy.— 
Martial law was declared on the 16th. The 
woodsmen from Louisiana,Tennessee, Mississippi 
Territory, and Kentucky, hastened to the seen® 
of honour and glory ; and meii, of different lan- 
guages and manners, prepared to emulate each 
other in defence of a common country, and a U^ 
berty in which they alike participated. 

On the ISth December, the enemy's flotilla 
gained the Pass Christian, and was proceedings 
evidently against the U. S. gun vessels, then at 
anchor off bay St. Louis. The gun-boats re- 
treated, during the nigjit, to the Malhereaux 
island?, Lake Borgne, where the wind and tide 
forced them to remain. At day-light, on the 
I5tb, the enemy advanced with 42 heavy launches 
and gun barges, moiuiting 42 guns, of 12, 18, and 
S* calibre, and 3 light gigs, with 1200 men, com* 
manded by Captain Locker. 

At 10 minutes before li, A. M. he commenc- 
ed aB attack on the llotilla; consisting of guR? 



EtSTOiiy 0¥ I'Hfi VVAK. 283 

boat No. 5, 5 guns, 36 men, sailing-mastei* Fer- 
ris ; gun-boat No. :^3, 5 guns, 39 men, Lieut. 
M'Keever; gun-boat No. 156, 5 guns, 41 men, 
Lieut. Jones ; gun-boat No. 162, 5 guns, 35 men, 
Lieut. Spedden; and gun-boat No. 163, 3 guns, 
31 men, sailing-mastei* Ulrick — total, 25 guns, 
and 182 men; the eatire under command of 
Lieut. Thos.Ap. Catespy Jones, of boat 156. 

The sloop Alligator (tender) of one * pounder 
and 8 men, not being able to join the flotilla, was 
captured, before the action with the gun-boats 
commenced. 

The gun- boats were taken in succession, and 
each boat, when taken, added to the enemy's line 
of attack. The action continued until 40 min- 
utes past 12, when the last of the gun-boats was 
surrendered. 

Considering the immense disproportion of the 
parties, the action was sustained, on the part of 
the Americans with a skill, brayery, and perse-* 
verance, unexampled, even in the most spirited 
of the actions which distinguished the American 
seamen in the previous part of the war. Five 
small vessels, and a few men, maintaining a con- 
test for an hour and a half, against a swarm of 
heavy barges and gun-boats, which closed and 
Hcarly surrounded them, was a sight unparallel- 
led in the annals of naval heroism. The loss of 
the enemy, in killed ^id wounded, was estimated' 
by Lieut. Jones, to exceed 300, among whom 
were an unusual quantity of officers. 

The capture of this flotilla gave to the enemy- 
a free entrance into Lake Ponchartrain, except 
what resistance they might meet from a small 
fort commanding the passage of the Regolettes. 

The enemy, having gained the command of 
Use lakcs;, was enabled to effect a passage to the. 



28* HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Mississippi, at a point, about 9 miles from New- 
Orleans. General Jackson advanced against 
liim, determined to attack him in his first posi- 
tion. The attack was made in the night ot* the 
23d December, at half past seven o'clock. It 
was commenced by a lire from the schooner Ca- 
roline, which dropped down the river, in order 
to open on the rear of the camp. This was the 
signal for Gen. Coffee to fall on the right, while 
Gen. Jackson attacked the left near the river. — 
It resulted honourably to the American arms ; 
but produced nothing decisive. The enemy's 
force amounted to about 3000 men ; that of Gen. 
Jackson did not exceed 1500. The eonfiict last- 
ed an hour, and was supported with great firm- 
ness. Gen. Jackson remained on the field until 
four o'clock in the morning, when he took a new 
position two miles nearer the city ; having lost 
in this affair, 24 killed, 115 wounded, and 74 
missing — total 213. 

7'he enemy succeeded, on the 27th, in blowing 
up the Caroline, (she being bebalmed) by means 
of hot shot, from a land battery, erected in the 
night. On the 2Sth, he advanced, with his 
whale force, against Gen. Jackson, in the hope 
of driving him from his position, and with this 
view opened a fire with bombs and rockets, at 
the distance of about half a mile. The enemy 
WPS repulsed, with a losso^bout 120 men. The 
Americans lost 7 killed and had 8 wounded. 

On Sunday morning, the 1st January, 1815, 
the enemy had advanced within 600 yards of the 
American breast works, under cover of night 
and a heavy fog, and had erected the preceding 
night, three different batteries, mounting in all 
45 guns, from 6's to .S2's. About eight o'clock, 
when the fog cleared off, they commenced a most 



HISTOUY OF THJB WAR. 285 

tremendous fire upon the Americans, but it was 
amply returned by them, and a heavy cannonad- 
ing was kept up, without the least interval on 
either side, except (hat occasioned by the explo- 
sion of a magazine in the rear of one of the 
American batteries, and another magazine in 
the night, owing to the enemy's Congreve rock- 
tits. By four o'clock in the afternoon, the 
Americans had dismounted all the enemy's guns, 
except two. They retreated, during the night, 
to their strong hold, about a mile and a quarter 
from the American camp. Twice did' the][ ene- 
my attempt to storm and carry the American 
batteries, but were as often deceived. On New- 
Year's day, the loss of the Americans was 11 
killed, and 23 badly wounded. That of the en- 
emy, from the accounts of two prisoners taken 
on that day, and three deserters afterwards, 
must have been much greater. 

According as the woodsmen arrived to the 
aid of Gen. Jackson's army, they were disposed 
of to the best advantage, for the purpose of de- 
fence; but these forces not being of a very ef- 
iieient nature, especially as the men could not 
be all provided with the necessary arms, the 
general could not attempt any thing against an 
enemy, who was thus left to pursire, undisturb- 
ed, his laborious operations. 

During the days of the 6th and 7th, the en- 
emy had been actively employed in making pre- 
parations for an attack on Jackson^s lines. — 
\Vith infinite labour, they had succeeded on the 
night of the 7th, in getting their boats across 
from the lake to the river, by widening and 
deepening the canal, on which they had effected 
their disembarkation. 

Gen. Jackson was on the left side of the river^ 



286 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

patiently waiting tlie attack. Gen. Morgan? 
with the New-Orleans contingent ; the Louisi- 
ana militia, and a detachment of Kentucky 
troops, occupied an entrenched camp on the op- 
posite side of the river, protected hy strong bat- 
teries on the bank, superintended by Commo- 
dore Patterson. 

On Sunday, the 8th, at 6 1-2 o'clock, A. M» 
the enemy began a very heavy cannonade upon 
the American lines, from his batteries of 18 and 
12 pounders, supported by the musketry of 2500 
men, who marched in close columns, and ad- 
vanced nearer than musket shot distance to the 
entrenchments, armed with rockets, obuses, and 
facines, to storm the batteries : they directed 
their principal attack against the head of the 
line, flanked by the river, and upon the left rest- 
ing upon the cipress swamp, as well as against 
the tirailleurs and riflemen, plaeed above tho 
said swamp ; the roaring of the guns, and firing 
©f the musketry, lasted two hours and a quar- 
ter ; the enemy's mortars, although directed a- 
gainst the centre, did no harm to the troops, 
the bursting of their bombs in the works was of 
no effect. Two British officers, and one French 
engineer, of the name of Hennie, who had gain- 
ed the summit of the American parapet, fsee 
frontispiece * J was killed or wounded, and made 
prisoners; (the engineer and one colonel was 
killed;) after this terrible affair, the field, in 
front of the works, was strewed with British 
W'ounded and killed. 

Gen. Jpckson thus briefly details the particu- 
lars of attack. 

" In my encampment every thing was ready for 
action ; when early on the morning of the 8th, the 
eticmy, after throwing a shower of bombs and Con 



HISTOKY OF THE WAR. 287 

greve rockets, advanced their columns at my right 
and left, to storm my entrenchments. 1 cannot speak 
sufficiently in praise of the firmness and deliberation 
with which my whole line received their approach. 
More could not have been expected from veterans 
inured to war. For an hour, the fire of small arms 

was as incessant and severe as can be imagined 

The artillery, too, directed by officers who displayed 
equal skill and coui«age, did great execution Yet 
the columns of the enemy continued to advance with 
a firmness which reflects upon them the greatest 
credit. Twice, the column, which approached me 
on my left, was repulsed by the troops of General 
Carrol, those of Gen. Coffee, and a division of the 
Kentucky militia, and twice they formed again, and 
renewed the assault. At length, however, cut ta 
pieces, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving 
it covered with their dead and wounded." 

Simultaneously with the attack on Gen. Jack- 
son's lines, an attack was made on the works of 
Gen. Morgan. Had the enemy been met with 
resolution in this attack, it must have produced 
his entire destruction ; but, unfortunately, the 
Kentucky reinforcements ingloriously fied, draw- 
ing after them, by their example, the remainder 
of the forces, and leaving the batteries to the 
enemy; not, however, until after the gunswei*e 
spiked, While General Jackson was preparing 
to dislodge the enemy from the captured battery, 
the British troops were withdrawn, and the post 
re-oceupied by the Americans. 

The return of the killed, wounded, and prison- 
ers, taken at the battle of Mac Prardies plan- 
tation, on the left bank of the Mississippi, on the 
morning of the 8th .January, 1815, and five mJieS' 
below the city of New-Orleans, consisted of — 
killed, 700 ; wounded, 1400 ; prisoners, 500— 
total 2600. 



288 HISTOBT OF THE WAR^ 

Among the slain, were General Sir Edward 
Packcnham, the chief, and Gen. Gibbs, the third 
in command; Gen. Keane, the second in com- 
mand, was severely wounded. Gen. Lambert 
succeeded to the command. 

His total loss, in the different engagements, 
was not probably less than 3500 : and was, by 
many, supposed to exeeed 4^000. The loss to 
the Americans, on the 8th, on both sides of the 
river, was IS killed, 39 wounded, and 19 missing; 
total killed, wounded and missing, this day, 71 ; 
of this number there were but 6 killed, and 7 
Mouiuled, in the action of the line. 

The enemy intended to pass Fort Philip, in 
order to co-operate with the land forces in the 
attack on New- Orleans. On the 9th January, 
at half past 3, P. M. the enemy's bomb vessels 
opened their iire against the fort, from 4 sea- 
mdrtars, 2 of them 13 inches, and 2 of 10, at so 
great a distance, that tlie shot from the fort 
could not reach him. The enemy's fire contin- 
ued with IKtle intermission, and with little in- 
terruption from the fort, during the 10th, 11th, 
12th, 13th, I4th, 15th, 16th and 17th. On the 
evening of the 17th, a heavy mortar was got in 
readiness, and opened on the enemy, with great 
eifect. At day light on the 18th, the enemy re- 
tiredj after having thrown upwards of 1000 heavy 
shells, besides small shells, from the howitzers, 
round shot and grape, which he discharged from 
boats, under cover of the night. Scarcely ten 
feet of the garrif^on remained untouched ; yet 
the loss of men was small, consisting of 2 killed, 
and 7 wounded. This saving of men was owing 
to the great pains taken by the officers to keep 
iheir men under cover. 

All the enemy's movements, after the actios 



HISTORY 01? THE WAR. 28v? 

ot° the 8tli of January, were calculated to secure 
his retreat, should such prove necessary, as ap 
pearances then indicated that it would. Their 
intention was, however, masked by a menacing 
attitude, as if preparing for a renewal of the at- 
tack on Jackson's line. They Jiad erected bat- 
teries to cover tlieir retreat, in advantageous 
positions, from their original encampment to the 
iJayou, through which they entered lake Bonrg- 
ne. The cannon placed on these batteries could 
liave raked a pursuing army in every direction. 
The situation of the ground, through wliieh they 
retired, was protected by canals, redoubts, en- 
trenchments, and swamps on the rightj and the 
river on the left. 

In this state of things, Jackson had an oppor- 
tunity of showing his prudence, as he before 
proved his courage, and, by uniting both quali- 
ties, perfected the general. Since the action of 
the 8th, the artillery, on both sides of the river, 
was constantly employed in annoying the enemy. 
An attempt to storm his batteries would have 
produced great slaughter among the Americans, 
been doubtful of success, and might possibly 
have induced the enemy to delay his departure. 
It was therefore resolved by Gen. Jackson to se- 
cure the advantage obtained, with the least pos- 
sible loss or hazard. 

All hope which the enemy had of reducing 
fort Philip, had vanished ; and on the night of 
the 18th they precipitately decamped, and re- 
turned to their shipping, leaving "behind them 80 
of their wounded, 14 pieces of heavy artillery, 
and an immense number of Imll, having destroy- 
ed much of their powder. 

Mr. Shields, purser in the navy, wrote letters 
«?U the 16th and 17th of January, to Mr. Nile&c 



290 HISTORY or T>HE WAR. 

ofBalCimope, containing much information, ft»om 
ivhich the following is extracted : 

" The day after the gun-boats were taken, I was 
sent down under a flag of truce, to ascertain the fate 
of our officers and men, with power to negotiate an 
exchange, especially for the wounded. But the en- 
emy would make no terms — they treated the flag 
with contempt, and myself and the surgeon, who 
was with me, as prisoners, until the 18th inst. He 
has now lowered his tone, and begs the exchange 
that we offered. Defeat has humbled the arrogance 
©f the enemy, nvho had promised his soldiers forty* 
eight hours pillage and rapine of the City of J^env- 
Orleans ! /" 

On the authority of judge Poindexter, it is 
stated, that ♦< the watch-word and countersign 
of the enemy, on the morning? of the Sth, was 
BEAUTY and BOOTY. Comment is unneces- 
sary on these significant allusions held out to a 
licentious soldiery. Had \ictory declared on 
their side, the scenes of Havre de Grace, of 
Hampton, of xVlcxandria, and of St. Sebastians, 
would, without doubt, have been re-acted at N. 
Orleans, with all the unfeeling and brutal inhu- 
manity of the savage foe with whom we are con- 
tending." 

Thus ended, in disgrace and discomfiture to 
the enemy, an expedition which occupied seve- 
ral months in its preparation, and was compos- 
ed of at least 10,000 troops, drawn from al- 
most every part of the world, where the Bri- 
tish had garrisons or soldiers. Nothing was 
left undone to secure the occupation of an im* 
mense province, and the command of a river ex- 
tending thousands of miles through the most 
fertile countries in the world ; and on wl^ieh se- 
veral of the United States depended as an outlet 
and market for their produce. 



HISrORy Ot THE WAK. 



lal 



ihat a permanent oc:jiri)atioa of New- Orleans, 
and the state of Loiiisiaiia, was intended, can 
scarcely be doubted. Tfie fact that revenue 
and olhei* civil olRcers, to reside at New-Or- 
leans, were on board the fleet, is a sufficient 
ovidenee of this fact, as well as it is of the cer- 
tainty wilh which victory was counted on; nor 
Is this rendered doubtful, by the circumstance, 
that the battle was foui^ht after the treaty of 
peace was ratified by the British government. 
The expedition against New- Orleans was plan- 
ned long before the signing of peace, and at a 
tijne when the wavering and quibbling policy of 
England induced the American commissioners 
at Ghent, to write to their government, " that 
£10 hopes of peace, as likely to result from it» 
(the negotiation) could be entertained." 

From an official account, it appeared, that 
Ihe number of men under command of General 
.faf'kson, and actually engaged against tlie en- 
eiri}', on the 8th January, amounted to 4,698. — • 
'i*he enemy's force, by his own account, exceed- 
ed 10,000.^ 

By an article in a Jamaica paper, of the 3d 
December, it was staled, that the expedition 
then prepared to go against the United States, 
under command of Sir Alexander Cochrane, and 
Maj. Gen. Keane, (the same that afterwards en- 
tered the Mississippi,) consisted of 1 ship of 80 
guns, b of 74, 3 of bO, 1 of 44, 6 of 38, 2 of 36, 
3 of 32, 3 of 16, 2 of 14, and a of 6 guns-^Total 
5:8; carrying 1084 guns, besides a great num- 
ber of cutters, transports, &c. 

On the 21st Jan. Gen. Jackson directed an ad- 
dress to be publicly read at the bead of each of 
the corps composing the lines nearNew-Orlcins. 
It must have, beea a difficult and delicate task to 



J^2 HISTORY OF THE WAB. 

do justice to individuals, ^vhere all acted so wel^ 
proving, in the general's words, " tbat a rampart 
of high minded men is a better defence, thau 

Uie most regular fortification." 

This address contained the following emphati- 
ca) paragraph. 

» Reasoning always from false principles they 
(the enemy) expected little opposition from men 
whose oificers even \yere not in uniform, who were 
ignorant of the rules of dress, and who had never 
been caned into discipline — fatal mistake ! a fire in- 
ressantly kept up, directed with calmness, and with 
imerrieg aim, strewed the field with the brave ofli- 
cers and men of the column, which slowly advanced, 
according to the most approved rules of European 
iacdcsy and was cut down by the untutored courage 
of the American miUtia. Unable to sustain this gal- 
ling and unceasinpc fire, some hundreds nearest the 
entrenchments called for quarters, which was grantt 
ed— the rest, retreating, were rallied at some dis- 
tance, but only to make them a surer mark for the 
grape and cannister shot of our artillery, which, 
vvithcut exaggeration, mowed do-^-n whole ranks a i: 
(very discharge ; and, at length* they precipitately 
retreated from the field." 

The follawing officers ar.d volunteers are par- 
ticularly noticed by the genera! : Generals Cof- 
fee, Carroll, Adair, De Flanjac, Vilfere, Mor- 
gan, Humbert, (acting as a volunteer,) Mexican ; 
Field Marshal Don Juande Anavar, (volunteer;) 
Colonels Ross, Dyer, Gibson, Elliot, Bl«Rea, 
Ferry, De la Ronde, Haynes, Piatt, Anderson, 
(killed.) and Adjf. Gen. Col. Butler ; Lieut. 
Col. Lauderdale, (killed ;) Majors Hinds, Blan- 
che, Caimae, St. Geme, Nicks, Chotard, Davis, 
Hampton, Tatuin, Lacalliere de la Tour, and 
La Caste and Dagain, commandiHg two corps of 
coioiircd men ; Captains Baker, Humphreys^ 



MXSTOEr OF THE WAK. 293 

Savaryj Beal, Ogden, Lewis, Livingston, Lefe- 
bfe, Pianchai'd, Smifh, Griffin, Malion, (killed,) 
Pace, (killed,) and the brothers Lafitte and Do- 
minique, and Bellncbe, (Barratarians ;) Lieu- 
tenants M*CielIan, (killed,) Dupy, Spotts, Kerr, 
Alexis, Crawford, (killed,) and Leach; Com- 
modore Patterson, Captain Henley, Lieutenants 
Norris and Growly, and Midshipman Erasmus 
Watkins, of the navy ; Aids-de-eamp Thos. D. 
Butler, John Heed, Livingston, Duncan, Grymes, 
Duplessis, and De Castera; Doctors Kerr and 
Flood 5* Judge Lewis, (volunteer;) and Messrs. 
Chauveau, Hiriart, Latrobe, Gilbert, Bosquet> 
and Decoin. 

Several desperate characters, citizens of the 
United States, as well as foreigners, natives of 
different countries, had associated themselves 
into a band of pirates, under the chief Lafitte, 
and liad taken up their residence in the island 
of Barritaria, near the mouth of the Mississippi, 
The government of the United States caused this 
unlawful establishment to be broken up. The 
expedition against the Barritarians, took posses- 
sion of all the piratical vessels, their prizes, and 
a considerable quantity of arms and property, 
without opposition, on the 16th September, 1814^. 
The vessels thus taken, consisted of six scboo- 
ners, and one felucca, cruisers and prizes of the 
pirates, one brig, a prize, and 2 armed schooners, 
both in line of battle with the armed vessels of 
the pirates. The establishment on shore, which 
was also taken possession of, consisted of about 
40 houses. The pirates had mounted on their 
vessels 20 pieces of cannon, of different calibres, 
and their number consisted of between 800 and 
1000 men, of all nations and colours. The ex- 
pedition agaioi^t the pirates was under command. 



:l9ii HlSXeilY OF XHB WAR. 

of Com. Patterson, of the navy, having oh board 
a detachment of land troops, under command ol 
Gol. Ross. 

The Barritarian pirates took part in the de- 
fence of New-Oileans, against the ]>ritish, and 
were both active and serviceable. It was, also, 
satisfactorily ascertained, that they had, previ- 
ous to their dispersion, refused an alliance with 
the British, rejecting the most seducing terms 
of invitation. Induced, by these considerations, 
and at the recommendation of the general as- 
sembly of the state of Louisiana, the President 
of the United States granted to such of them 
as aided in defence of New- Orleans, a full par- 
don for all oifences against the laws of the Unit^ 
ed States, committed previous to the 8th Janu- 
ary, 1S15. 

The enemy, after being defeated near New- 
Orleans, turned his attention to the state of 
Georgia; and, from appearances, intended a 
visit to Savannah. The unprepared state of 
Georgia, and the dreadful character of the en- 
emy, caused a great alarm among the inhabi- 
tants of the state-. 

On the 11th January, 1815, the enemy, t© 
ihe number of 1500 or 2000 men, elfectcd a 
landing On Cumberland island. On the loth. 
Point Petre was carried by storm; and, on the 
ibllowing day, St. Mary's capitulated, in con- 
sequence of a flag sent from the inhabitants of 
the town. The enemy evacuated Point Petre 
and St. Mary's, the 21st January, after burning 
the barracks, and blowing up the fort. Had the 
enemy attempted Savannah, he would have met 
a reception similar to that experienced at New- 
Orleans. No people ever turned out more gen- 
erally, or with more alaerify? than tie men of 



aiSTOilY OF THE WAR. 29 J 

Georgia. The militia, in every part of the 
state, were in motion, when the news of peace . 
and refreat of the enemy, reached them. While 
the enemy was marching against Point Petre, 
Capt. Massias, of the 1st U. S, rifle corps, at the 
head of 60 men, attempted to oppose 1000, com- 
mitted considerahle havoc aujong the enemy, 
and retreated, with the loss of 1 killed, 4 wound- 
ed, and 9 missing. 

The fortress of Mobile, within the limits of 
the purchase of Louisiana, had been retained by 
(he Spaniards, notwithstanding its purchase by 
the United States. The war between Great- 
Britain and the United States rendered it ne- 
cessary to occupy this place, lest it should fall 
into the possession of the enemy. On the 15th 
April, 1813, General Wilkinson appeared before 
it, at the head of a respectable force ; when, the 
garrison being summoned to surrender, the Spa- 
nish troops were immediately embarked for Pen- 
saeola ; and Mobile taken possession of by the 
United States' troops. 

Pensacola, although a Spanish post, was not 
properly entitled to the character of neutral. — 
The conduct of the Spanish governor left no 
doubt as to his attachment to the British, and 
his hostile disposition toward the United States. 

Pensacola was an asylum for hostile Indians; 
at Pensacola, they were ai med, provisioned, and 
paid. Pensacola was a depot of British arms, 
a home for traitors to the United States, and a 
place of rendezvous for every ally of the enemyv 
whether white, black, or red. 

As soon as the war in Europe was likely to 
end, and Britain at liberty to direct her whole 
force against the United States, the understand- 
ing with^ the governor of Florida, became less 



^96 HISTORY Oi' THE "WAK. 

Biaskcd, and the British officers boldlv dated 
their public acts from " Head'C(uavterSf Pcnsa- 
cola,'' 

It >vas, under these circumstances, determin- 
ed to attack the British at their headquarters, 
and to storm the town, although defended by 
strong batteries, and supported bj seven armed 
British vessel in the bay. On tlie 7th Novem- 
ber, 1814, the attack was made, under the com- 
mand and direction of Gen. Jiiekson. The fol- 
lowing animated report of the assault, was made 
by General Jackson, in a letter to Governor 
Early : 

«' I entered sword in hand, with about 3000 brave 
followers, in the face of Spanish batteries, and a 
British fleet of 7 sail, anchored abreast and opposite 
the town. The English, by intrigue and base false- 
hood, induced the Spaniards to abandon the works 
commanding the harbour, entered them and blew 
them up, otherwise they would have fallen a sacri- 
fice to their own plans. When this took place, the 
fleet being at liberty to go out, did so ; and I evacu- 
ated the town, leaving the Spaniards favourably im- 
pressed with our conduct, and disgusted with their 
British friends." 

Fort Bowyer was closely besieged by land and 
water, on the 8th February, 1815, by a very 
large force of the enemy. The garrison con- 
sisted of 360 men, including officers, commanded 
by Lieut. Col. W. Lawrence. The enemy ad- 
yanced by regular approaches, and was within 
certain musket shot of the parapets of the fort, 
on the land side, when the garrison was surren- 
dered, on the 12th, by capituIation.-r-There were 
but few lives lost on either side. 

On the 24th February, 6 barges of the enemy 
proceeded up the river St. Mary's, with a yiew 



1 



IIISTOUY OF THE WAR. 297 

to burn the mills belonging to Mr. A. Clark. — 
They ^vere opposed by a tew patriots from the 
Florida shore, when ihe boats taeked about to 
retreiit ; at this moment, about 30 men attacked 
them from an ambush on the opposite shore.-^ 
The enemy was thus placed between two fires, 
which continued to gall him until he reached a 
part of the river, where, by keeping the centre, 
he was beyond the reaeli of the fire from both 
shores. The enemy lost upwards of 100 men. 
I'he Aniericaus had only one man wounded. 

The U. S. ship President, Com. Decatur, sail- 
ed on a cruise from New-York, the 14th Janu- 
ary, 1S15. The ship, in going over the bar, 
grounded, and suffered so much in consequence, 
as evidently to affect her sailing; and was the 
cause of her subsequent capture, by a superior 
force of the enemy. At 5, A. M. on the 15th, 
the President fell in with the enemy's squadron, 
consisting of the Majestic, razee ; Endymion, 
Pomone, Tenedos, and Despatch brig. The 
injury done to the President, when she ground- 
ed off the Hook, prevented her outsailing the 
enemy's fleet. The Endymion (mounting fifty 
guns, 21b pounders, on the main deck) having ap- 
proached within gun-shot, commenced a firing 
at 3, P. M. more with a view to delay than t» 
Iry strength with the President. The latter, 
however, was enabled to bring her guns so far 
to bear, as to silence the Endymion, and to put 
her, by 8 o'clock, fully out of combat, so much 
crippled, that she could, with great difficulty, be 
worked, or kept afloat. The near approach of 
the other ships, obliged the President to aban- 
don a vessel, that must, if not supported by her 
consorts, have surrendered. The Pomone and 
Tenedos, came up and engaged the President at 



298 HISTORY 01 THE WAU. 

the same time, the Majestic being also within 
gun-shot. It being useless and imprudent to 
engage so overpowering a ibree, Com. Decatur 
struck his flag, and went on board the Majes- 
tic, where he delivered his sword to Capt. Hays, 
the senior officer of the squadron, who politely 
returned it. The written parole granted to 
Com. Decatur, specified his having surrendered 
the President to a British squadron ; thus si- 
lencing those who wished to have it understood^ 
that the Commodore struck his flag to a single 
ship. The prize money, arising from the cap- 
ture of the President, was divided among the 
crews of the squadron, by which she was cap- 
tured. 

'^rhe loss on board the enemy could not be as- 
certained; that of the President consisted of 2* 
killed, and 50 wounded. Among the killed, were 
Lieutenants Babbit, Hamilton, and HowelL 

Commodore Decatur, in his official report, 
wrote that " a considerable number of his killed 
and wounded was from the fire of the Pomone; 
and that the Endymion had on board, in addition 
to her own crew, 1 lieutenant, 1 master's mate, 
and 50 seamen, belonging to the Saturn: and 
livhen the action ceased, was left motionless and 
unmanageable, until she bent new sails, rove new 
rigging, and fished her spars ; nor did she join 
the squadron until six hours after the action, am! 
three hours after the surrender of the Presi- 
dent." 

The U. S. frigate Constitution, Capt. Stewart, 
sailed from Boston, in December, 1814. When 
oft' Madeira, on the evening of the 20th Febru- 
ary, 1S15, she fell in with his Britannic majesty's 
ships Cyane and Levant, which she captared- 
after an action of iO minutes. 



HISTOUY OF THE WAK. 29^ 

The Cyane is a frigate built ship, mounting 
3i carriage guns, viz. 22 32-pound carronades 
on the gun-deck, 8 18-pound carronades on the 
quarter-dc<}k, 2 18-pound carronades, and 2 
long 9's, on the f\)recastle, with a complement 
of 180 men. The Levant mounted 21 carriage- 
guns, viz. 18 32-pound carronades, 2 long 9*s, 
and a shifting 12-pounder, on the top-gallant 
forecastle, with a complement of 156 men. 
The enemy's vessels suffered severely in spars, 
pigging, and sails. The Constitution received 
little injury, having but 4 men killed, and 10 
wounded. The Cyane had 7 killed, and 17 
wounded; the Levant, 9 killed, and 17 wounded. 
On the 12th March, the Constitution and her 
prizes, fell in with three British frigates. The 
frigates kept together, in chase of the Constitu- 
tion, lest, by separating they might be captured 
hi succession. The Constitution outsailed and 
escaped the enemy's squadron ; the Cyane arriv- 
ed at New- York ; and the Levant was attacked 
and taken by the British squadron, in the har- 
bour of Porto Praya, in the Island of St. Jago, 
in violation of the neutrality of the port, and 
contrary to the laws of nations. The Constitu-^ 
tion arrived safely in the United States. 

On the 19th July, 1813, the U. S. brig of war 
Syren, of 16 guns, was captured after a chase 
of 11 hours, by his Britannic majesty's frigate 
Medway. During the chase the Syren threw 
overboard all her guns, boats, anchors, cables> 
and spars. 

On the 25th May, 1815, the President of the 
United States informed Congress, that his ma« 
jesty the Emperor of Russia, had offered his 
mediation, in order to facilitate a peace between 
Great' Britain and th§ United Stated, that ^le 



S.QO HISTORY OP THE WAIU 

offer was accepted by the President, and that 
three citizens had been commissioned to treat 
accordingly. 

On the meeting of Congress in December fol- 
lowing, the President, in his message to both 
houses, informed them, that Great-Britain had 
declined negotiating under the mediation of 
Kussia. 

Notwithstanding this refusal of the British 
government, to accept the Russian mediation, 
the British ambassador, at the court of St. Pe- 
tersburg, directed a letter, in September, to the 
Russian government, intimating a desire to 
treat immediately with the American plenipo- 
tentiaries. 

Lord Castlereagh, secretary of state to his 
Britannic majesty, enclosed a copy of the above 
note in a letter of the Mb November, to the 
secretary of state of the United States, at the 
city of Washington, proposing that the two go- 
vernments would enter into direct negotiation, 
for a termination of the war, on terms that 
would be mutually advantageous ; and that tlie 
negotiations would be entered into at Gotten- 
burg or London. The proposition was prompt- 
ly acceded toby the American government, fix- 
ing on Gottenburg as the place of negotiation. 

The senate confirmed, on the 19th January, 
1814, the nomination, by the President, of John 
Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, 
and Jonathan Russell, as ministers to treat for 
peace with British commissioners at Gotten- 
burg. It was afterward agreed, that the treaty 
should be held at Ghent. 

So indecisive and equivocating was the con- 
duct of British ministers, that n^any persons 
doubted whether any commissieners would be 



. HISTORY OJ- THE WAE. (SGI 

appointed on the part of Britain ; and, when 
appointed, it was pretty generally believed that 
the appointment was merely pro forma, without 
any intention to agree to reasonable terms of 
peace. 

The British government appointed, as their 
commissioners, Lord Gambier, Henry Goulburn, 
Esq. and William Adams, Esq. These person- 
ages arrived at Ghent the 6th August. 

At the first meeting with the American com- 
missioners, terms were offered on the part of 
England, so degrading and offensive to the Unit- 
ed States, that it was impossible to accept them ; 
and, as some of them were offered in the form 
of a sine qua won, there remained not a hope of 
a speedy negotiation of hostilities. 

The news, when arrived in the United States? 
roused at once the pride and the energy of the 
nation ; and produced an union of sentiment-, that 
presaged future glory and success. 

It was now evident, that the negotiations at 
Ghent, hung on those then pending before a con- 
gress of the ministers of several potentates, as- 
sembled at Vienna, for settling a general peace 
in Europe. 

It is easy to conceive, that the task to be per- 
formed by the congress at Vienna, was dilliculto 
"Wrapped up in state secrecy, and influenced by 
state intrigues, the course of negotiation at Vi- 
enna, was, in a ^reat degree, withheld from the 
public eye. The continued armaments of Eu- 
ropean powers, and the military parade with 
which the Duke of Wellington appeared in Bel- 
gium, even before lite Emperor of Elba ceased 
to be a pensioner of Louis XVIIT, led to the sus- 
picion, that the rights of European sovereigns 
must be settled by a new effusion of the blood of 
their subjects. 

Aa 



d02 HISTOKY 01? TUE WAR. 

AVhatever niolive may have influenced the 
British government, it is certain, that a very 
sudden change of tone was produced on their 
part. Tlie consequence was, that a treaty of 
peace, hetween Great Britain and the United 
States, was signed at Ghent, the 2Mh Decemher, 
181i, hy Lord Gambier, Henry Gouiburn, and 
William Adams, as commissioners on the part 
of England ^ and by John Quincy Adams, J. A. 
Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell, and Al- 
bert Gallatin, as commissioners on the part of 
the United States; ratified at London the 28(h 
of tlie same month, and ratified at the city of 
"Washington, on the 17th February, 181^. 

The terms of the treaty being considered 
honourable to the country, and satisfactory to 
the citizens, their ratification was followed by 
the most general and enthusiastic joy, accom- || 
panied by illuminations, &c. &c. in every part of ^ 
the union. 

Measures, early as possible, were taken to ^ 
bring home, and restore to their country and | 
friends, a great number of American prisoners, 
confined in the depots in England. Among 
these were many, who, having been impressed, 
and forced to serve the British government for 
many years before the war, had, on that occa- 
sion, refused to fight against their country and 
friends ; and were, in consequence, treated as 
prisoners of war, although not taken in time of 
war, or in arms. 

An unfortunate event prevented many of the 
unhappy prisoners from revisiting their country; 
or sent them to it, with marks of British bar- 
barity, which will remain on them for life. 

On the 6th April, 1815, Capt. T. G. Short- 
land, keeper of the prison of Dartmoor, having 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. SOS 

discovered a small hole in one of the inner walls 
of the prison, made it a pretext for drawing out 
the army against the prisoners. The alarm bell^ 
instead of causing the prisoners to retreat to 
their prisons, induced many of them to press 
forward to discover the cause : this was certain- 
ly more a proof of innocence, than of any pre- 
meditated attempt to escape from a pla^e, 
whence tliey must have been soon released, with- 
out the i-isk of life. The measures taken, by 
order of Shoriland, previous to the massacre, 
Avere calculated to prevent the return of the 
prisoners who were thus left the more exposed 
to the fire of the soldiery. While thus embar- 
rassed, they were charged by the soldiery ; and 
while running in great confusion to discover the 
few doors left open for their escape into the pri- 
■ son, they were fired on by the centinels on the 
walls. In this manner, 7 were killed, and 6a 
wounded. A committee of the prisoners investi- 
gated this transaction, and gave in their report, 
all the appearance of a foul and premeditated 
murder. 

The British government in order to lessen this 
stigma on its officers, agreed to have an investi- 
gation made by two persons, one to be appoint- 
ed by the British minister, the other by the 
American. F. S. Larpent was appointed by the 
former, and Charles King by the latter. The re- 
port of these commissioners certainly softened 
the apparent culpability of Shorthand, but the 
correctness of the report has been denied by the 
prisoners, not by any wilful representation of the 
commissioners, but from a want of sufficient in- 
formation or inquiry. 

The subject of Dartmoor is referred to, for 
the purpose of directing the readers to the peri- 



364. HISTORY OF THE WAK, 

0(1 of the massacre, but without the intention of 
entering into a detail, which the present limits 
will not allow. 

Although a ratified treaty of peace had been 
exchanged, at Washington, on the 17th Febru- 
ary* .yet by its articles, captures made in distant 
seas were allowed, until certain periods after the 
date of i^tifieation. The events produced during 
this time, proved both honourable and advanta- 
geous to the Americans. 

At half past 10, A. M. the 23d March, 1815, 
Captain Biddle, commanding the United States* 
sloop Hornet, being oif the north end of the is- 
land of Tristan d'Acunha, discovered a sail to 
the southward and eastward. He immediately 
made sail for her. At 1, 40, P. M. an action 
commenced. After a well fought engagement, 
of 22 minutes, the enemy cried for quarters, and 
was taken possession of by the victorious Ameri- 
can. She proved to be his Britannic majesty's 
brig Penguin, mounting 16 32-pound carronades, 
3 long twelves, a 12-pound carronade on the top- 
gallant forecastle, with swivels on the capstern in 
the tops: she had a spare port forward, so as, to 
iight both her long guns of a side. The enemy 
had a complement of 132 men, i2 of whom were 
supernumerary n]arines, from the Medway,. 7*. 
After the prisoners were removed, and some pro- 
visions and stores taken from the Penguin, she 
was, by order of Captain Biddle, scuttled and 
sunk, her crippled and riddled state rendering-it 
unadvisable to attempt sending her to the United 
States. 

" This ship, (said Captain Biddle, in his official 
report,) did not receive a single shot in her hull, nor 
any material wound in her spars ; the rigging and 
sails were very much cut ; but having bent a new 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 305 

set of sails, and knotted and secured our rigging, we 
are now completely ready, in all respects, for any 
service. We were eight men short of complement, 
and had nine upon the sick list, the morning of the 
action/' 

The enemy acknowledged a loss of fourteeir 
killed, and twenty-eight vvounded; but Mr. 
Mayo, who was in charge of the prize, said that 
the number was certainly greater. Capt. Dick- 
enson, the commander of the Penguin, was kil- 
led, and the boatswain, second lieutenaut, pur- 
ser, and two midshipmen, wounded. Each of 
the midshipmen lost a leg. 

The officers of the Penguin relate, that, dur- 
ing the action with the Hornet, a thirty-two 
pound shot came in at the after-port of the Pen- 
guin, on the larboard side — carried away six 
legSf killed the powder boy of the division, cap- 
sised the opposite gun on the starboard side, 
passed througli the port, and ^* sunk in sullen 
silence to the bottom." 

The war between the United States and Great 
Britain, left a favourable opportunity for the pi- 
rates of Africa, to prey on the persons and pro- 
perty of the Americans. The Algerines de- 
clared war, and fitted out a fleet accordingly. 

Having given in pages 21 and 522, the list of 
the American Navy, as it stood at the com- 
mencement of the war with Great-Britain, it 
may be considered interesting to know how the 
Lilliputian navy stood at the end of the war, 
which was to «^ blow it out of the water." The 
following is the naval list of shipping, in April, 
1816. 7'hose vessels, whose names are marked 
(^) are sucli as remain of the naval force before 
the war. Those marked (5) are building. Those 
marked in Italic are such as were captured from 
A a 2 



306 



HISTORY OF THE WAK. 



the Britisli, during the war. The rest liave been 
built or purchased during the war. Those that 
are blank have no armament at present. 



Rates. 


Names nf Vessels. 
p Independence 


CommandeTs. 


Station, &(C. 


74 Sh 


Com. Wm. Bainbridge Boston 


74 


Washington 


Capt. I. Chauncey 


do. 


74 


Franklin 




Philadelphia: 


74 


New-Orleans § 




Sacket's Harbor 


74 


Chippewa ^ 




do. do. 


44 


Guerriere, flap; ship 


Com. S. Decatur 


Boston 


44 


United States* 


J. Shaw 


Mediterranean! 


44 


Java 


O. H. Perry 


do. 


44 


Constitution * 


C. Stewart 


Boston 


44 


Plattsburgh \ 




Sacket's Harbor 


44 


Superior 




do, do. 


S6 


Constellation* 


C. Gordon 


Mediterranean 


»36 


Con2;ress * 


C. Morris 


Mediterranean 


:?6 


Macedonian 


L, Warrington 


do. • 


32 


Mohawk 




Sacket's Harbor 


i 


Confiance 




Lake Champlain 


Cyane 




New-York 


24 


Saratoga 




Lake Champlain 


24 


John Adams 


E. Trencharcl 


Mediterranean 


24 


General Pike 


W. VV\ Crane 


Sacket's Harbor 


20 


Madison 




do. do. 


20 


Jhrt 


W. Stewart 


Mediterranean 


18 


Hornet* 


J. Biddle 


Wew-York 


18 


Wasp 


J. Blakely 


At Sea 


18 


Peacock 


L. Rodgers 
J. D. Elliot 


New-York 


18 


Ontario 


Mediterranean 


13 


Erie 


C. P. Ridgely 


do. 


13 


Louisiana* 


C. C. B. Thomi:«on 


New-Orleans 


18 Briff Jefferson 




Sacket's Harbor 


18 


Jones 


M. T. Woolsey 


do. do. 


18 


Epervier 


J. Downs 


At sea 


18 


Niagara 




Lake Erie 


18 


Ijawrence 




Erie, Penn. 


18 


Detroit 




do. do. 


18 


Eagle 




Lake Champlaici 


16 


Sylph 




Sacket's Harbor 


16 


Chippewa 


P. C. Read 


New-York 


16 


Quern ClmrloUe 




Erie, Penn. 


J6 


Saranac 




New-York 


16 


Linnet 




Lake Champlain 


16 


Boxer 


J. Porter 


New-York 


16 


Troup 
Oneida 




Savannah 


14 


T. Brown 


Sacket's Harbor 


14 


^nterprize * 


L. Kearny 


New-York 


12 


Flambeau 


J. B. Nicholson 


Do. 


12 


Firefly 


G. IV.Rodger3 


Do.i 


12 


Spark 


T. Gamble 


Do. 


.'.0 


Hunter 




Erie, Penn. 


9 


Prometbeus 


A. S. Wadsworth 


Boston 



HISTOllY OF THE WAR* 



307 



Rat 


e.j. Names of Vesseh . 
Ghent 




Commanders. 


Station^ g(c^ 


5 






Erie, Penn. 


3 


Caledonia 






Do. do. 




Etna, bomb 


L. Alexis 


New-Orleans 


17 


Scbr. Ticonderoga 






Lake Champlain 


14 


Nonsuch 


Trant 


West-Indies 


ll 


Spitfire 


A. 


J. Dallas 


New-York ' 


lO 


Torch 


W. 


Chauncey 


Do. 


10 


Lady Prevoat 






Erie, Penu. 





Tom Bowlioe 


Hoffman 


New-York 


9 


Alligator 






New-York 


7 


Roanoke 


B. 


D. Conkley 


Wilmington, N.C. 


7 


Firebrand 






New -Orleans 




Surprise 






Do. 


8 


Conquest 






Sacket's Harbour 


5 


Hornet 


F. 


Forrest 


Washington, D. C. 


5 


Lynx 


T. 


Dukehart 


New-York 


4 


Pair American 






Sacket's Harbour 


4 


Helen 






Newcastle, Del. 


8 


Despatch 






Norfolk 


3 


Asp 


W 


Atkinson 


Baltimore 


3 


Porcupine 






Erie, Penn. 


3 


Lady of the Lai 


:e 




Sacket's Harbour 


3 


Pert 






Do. dp- 


2 


Governor Tompkins 




Do. do. 


1 


Ranger 






Baltimore 


1 


Ontario 






Sacket's Harbour 


1 


Amelia 






Erie, Penn. 


2 


Asp 






Sacket's Harbour 


] 


Raven 






Do. do. 


12 


Sloop President 






Lake Champlain 


]t 


Finch 






Do. do. 


Jl 


Chubb 






Do. do. 


7 


Preble 






Do. do. 


6 


Montgomery- 






Do. do. 


5 


Biiffaloe 






Philadelphia 


5 


Camel 






Do. 


2 


Tickler 






New-Orleans 


n 


Galley Allen 






Lake Champlaiu 


2 


Burrows 






Do. do. 


2 


Boxer 






Do. do. 


2 


Nettle 






Do. do. 


2 


Viper 






Do. do. 


2 


Centipede 






Do. do. 


1 


Ludlow 






Do. do. 


1 


Wiimer 






Do. do. 


I 


Alwyn 






Do. do. 


1 


Ballard 
Ketch Spitfire ^ 
Vesuvius* 
■ Venseance 






Do. do. 

Norfolk 
New-York 
Do. 


Barges from No. I to 15, 


inclusive, on Lake Ontario, mounting eadi 





— - sruns. and now at Sacke 


'? Harbour. 




The old gunboats have been cliiefly sold. 





308 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



It would be a curious question in political arith- 
metic, to determine what number of American ships 
and their rates, would be sufficient to destroy the 
British navy, taking the naval events of the late war 
as a scale by which to calculate ; and how long it 
would take to provide the necessary number of ves- 
sels, taking the increase of the navy, during the war, 
as a ratio. 

LIST OF AMERICAN PRIZES, 

Which have arrived, or been " Satisfactorily ac» 
counted for,** with the name of the Privateers, &c. 
and the number captured by each vessel, during 
the war. 

(From Mies* Register,) 



Abaellino of Boston 

U. S. ship Adams 

Boat Alert, of Burlington, Lake Champlain 

Alexander of Salem 

Alfred of Salem 

Amelia of Bath 

Amelia of Baltimore 

America of Salem 

Anaconda of N. York 

Argo of Baltimore 

U. S. brig Argus 

Argus of Boston 

Atlass of Philadelphia 

Avon of Boston 

Baltimore of Baltimore 

Bellona of Philadelphia 

U. S. Barges 

Black Joke of New- YoFk 

Blakely of Boston 

Boats from Buffiiioe 

Brutus of Boston 

Buckskin of Salem 

Bunkerhill of N. York 

Cadet of Salem 

Caroline of Baltimore' 

Catharine of Boston 

Ciiamplain Privateer 

Charles Stewart of Boston 

Chasseur of Baltimore 

Chauncey's sqiiadruu on Lake Otttam 

U. S. frigate Chesapeake 

Comet of Baltimore 

U. S. frigate Congress 

v.. S, frigate CoBstitutivHi 



]0 
]0 

1 

3 
l> 

21 

34 
3 
1 

24' 
4 
2 
2 
2 
2 

2 

li 

3 

9 

4 

6 

2 
29 

1 

1 = 

1 
27 
22 

4 
29 

4 
12.., 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 309 



Custom House Barge 


1 


Dart of Portland 


6 


Dash of Portland 


9 


David Porter of N. York 


6 


David Porter of Boston 


8 


Decatur of Newburyport 


6 


Decatur of Charkston 


11 


Delisle of Baltimore 


3 


Diamond of Baltimore 


1 


Diomede of Salem 


1 


Divided we fall of New-York 


J6 


Dolphin of Baltimore 


7 


Dolphin of Salem 


17 


Dromo of Boston 


1 


Eagle of Charleston 


3 


Eliza 


1 


U. S. brig Enterprize 


!> 


U. S. frigate Essex 


12 


Essfx Junior 


3 


Expedition of Baltimore 


4 


Fair Trader of Salem 


7 


Fairy of Baltimore 


2 


Fame of Salem 


10 


Fame of Thomastown 


1 


FUrtof N.YorJc 


1 


Fly 


2 


Fox of Salem 


4 


Fox of Baltimore 


2 


Fox of Portsmouth 


28 


Franklin of N. York 


9 


U. S. sloop of war Frolic 


I 


Frolic of Salem 


12 


Full blooded Yankee 


1 


Galloway of N.York 


I 


General Armstrong of New-York 


IB 


General Stark of Salem 


4 


General Putnam of Salem 


1 


Globe of Baltimore 


7 


Gossamerof Boston 


] 


Governor Tompkins of N. York 


iJ2 


Governor M'Kean of Philadelphia 


3 


Gov«^rnor Plumer of Portsmouth 


3 


Grampus of Baltimore 


7 


Grand Turk of Salem 


21 


Grovyler 


4 


U. S. Gun-boats 


?o 


Harpy of Baltimore 


13 


Harrison of Baltimore 


8 


Hawk of Washington N. C. 


1 


Hazard 


1 


Henry Guilder of N. Y. 


1 


Herald of N. York 


3 


Hero of N. York 


5 


HeroofNewbern 


2 


Hero ofStonington 


1 


High Flyitr of Baitimore 


T 



310 HISTOKT OF THE WAR. 



Holkar of N. York 


9' 


Boat Holkar 




Hope 




U. S. sloop of war Hornet 




Hunter 




Ida of Baltimore 




Ida of Boston 




Industry of Lynn 


3 


Industry of Marblehead 


1 


Industry ef Salem 
ino of Boston 


3 


2 


Invincible of N. York 


5 


Invincible of Salem 


4 


Jack's Favourite of New- York 


6 


Jacob Jones of Boston 


3 


James Munroe 


5 


Jefferson of Salem 


6 


Joel Barlow 


2 


Jonquil of N. York. 


5 


John of Salem 


n 


John and George 




Kemp of Baltimore 


16 


Lady Madison of AVjlmingtoQ N. E. 


1 


On Lake Superior 


2 


On Lake Huron 


3 


On Lake Champlain 


8 


Lark 


1 


Lawrence of Baltimore 


14 


Leach of Salem 


2 


Leader of Providence R. I . 




Jjeander of Providence 


1 


Jieo of Baltimore 


14 


Leo of Boston 


8 


Liberty of Baltimore 


7 


Jjittle George of Boston 

Letter of Marque, of Wilmington, N. C 


1 


2 


Lovely Cordelia of Charleston 


20 


Lovely Lass of Charleston 


1 


Lyon of Marblehead 


4 


Macedonian of Baltimore 


1 


Macedonian of Boston 


6 


Macedonian of Portsmouth 


9 


Madison of Salem 


. 7 


Marengo of N. York 


8 


Mammoth of Baltimore 


- 28 


M'Donough of Rhode-Island 


2 


M'Donoughof B oston 


7 


Mars of Norfolk 


3 


Mars of N. York 


4 


Mars of New London 


2 


Mary Ann of Charleston 


5 


Matilda of Philadelphia 




Midas of Baltimore 


10 


On Mobile Bay 


2 


Morgiana of N. York 


6 


Montgoraeiy of Salem 


8 



HISTORY OIF THE WAR, 3ll 

Nancy 1 

Ked of Baltimore 1 

Nonpariel of Charleston 1 

IVonsucli of Baltimore 4 

U. S. schooner Nonsuch I 

Orders in Council of New- York 5 

Orlando of Gloucester 3 

Patriot of New- York 9 

Paul Jones of New- York H 

Perry of Baltimore ^ 24 

Com. Perry's squadron on Lake Erie 9 

United States' sloop of war Peacock 15 

Patapsco of Baltimore 3 

Pike of Baltimore 13 

Pilot of Baltimore 3 

Polly of Salem 7 

Portsmoutli of Portsmouth N. H. 9 

Poor Sailor ol Charleston 1 

Pnnce of Neufchatel 35 

Rambler of Bristol 2 

Rambler of Boston 5 

Ranger of Boston 3 

Rapid of Boston 4 

Rapid of Charleston 4 

United States' brig Rattlesnake 4 

Rattlesnake of Philadelphia 25 

Regulator 1 

Reindeer of Boston 6 

Resolution of Boston 1 

Retaliation of New -York 1 

Revenge of Baltimore 9 

Revenge of Norfolk 2 

Revenge of Philadelphia 3 

Revenge of Salem 5 

Revenue Cutters 5 

Roger of Norfolk 8 

Roger of Baltimore 3 

Rolla of Baltimore 11 

Commodore Rodgers's squadrOB 19 

Rosamond of New-York 3 

Rossie of Baltimore J 4 

Rover of N. York 1 

Row boat privateer 2 

Sabine of Baltimore _ 5 

At Sandy Creek by rifleraea 5 

Sarah Ann of Baltimore I 

Saranac of Baltimore 2 

Saratoga of N, York 19 

Scourge of N. York 29 

Saucy Jack of Charlestoa 27 

Shark of N. York 1 

Sine-qua-non of Boston I 

Scorpion of Salem 2 

Siro of Baltimore 1 

Snap Dragon of Newbern N. C. 28 



312 HISTORY OP THE WAE. 



Snowbird of Salem 


. ii 


Sparrow of Baltimore 


2 


Spark of N. Vork 


3 


Sp7 of New-Orleans 


1 


Surprise of Baltimore 


36 


Boat Surprise and Boat Swiftsure 


2 


Spencer of Philadelphia 


1 


Squando of Portsmouth N. H» 


1 


United States' brig Syren 


2 


Syren of Baltimore 


7 


On the St. Lawrence 
Teazer of N. York 


8 


13 


Terrible (boat) 


■^-.v 


Thomas of Portsmouth 


• S^: , 


Thorn of Marblehead 


1 


Thrasher 


1 


Timothy Pickering 


1 


Tom of Baltimore 


4 


True-blooded Yankee 


27 


Two Brothers of New-Orleans 


I 


Two r'rieuds of Massachusetts 


i 


Tuckahoe of Baltimore 


2 


U. S. frigate United States 


1 


Ultor of Baltimore 


19 


United We Stand of NeW-York 


1 


Upton (a prize ship) 


1 


Viper of N. York 


3 


Viper of Salem 


} 


Warrior of N York 


9 


U. S. ship of war Wasp 


16 


Wasp of Baltimore 


2 


Wasp of Philadelphia 


2 


Wasp of Salem 


1 


Washington of Portland 


I 


Waterwich of Bristol 


1 


Whig of Baltimore 


14 


Wiley Reynard of Boston 


4 


Whale boat 


1 


Yankee of Bristol R. I 


38 


Yankee (smack) 
Yorktown of N. York 


2 


5 


York of Baltimore 


10 


Young Bade of N. York 


► 2 


Young TeSzer of N. York 


6 


Young Wasp of Philadelphia 


11 


Sundry vesselsj names not ascertained 


16 




Total, 1834 



APPENDIX. 



HISTORY 



ALGEMNE WAE. 

The Dey of Algiers took advantage of (he 
war between England and the United States, as 
a convenient opportunity to attack the trade, and 
to capture the citizens of the latter power. On 
the 23d February, 1815, the following confiden- 
tial message from the President of the United 
States, was delivered to both houses of congress s 
To the Senate and House of Refiresentatives o/* the 
United States. 

Congress will have seen, by the communication 
from the consul general of the United States at Al- 
giers, laid before them on the ]7th November, ISIS, 
the hostile proceedings of the Dey against that func- 
tionary. These have been followed by acts of more 
overt and direct warfare against the citizens of the 
United States trading in the Mediterraneat], some of 
whom are still detained in captivity, notwitbstanding 
the attempts which have been made to ransom them, 
and are treated with the rigour usual on the coast of 
Barbary. 

The considerations which rendered it unnecessary 

and unimportant to commence hostile operations on 

the part of the United States, being now terminated 

by the peace with Great-Britain, which opens the 

B b 



3l4^ APPENDIX. 

prospect of an active and valuable trade of their 
citizens within the rarge of the Algerine cruisers, I 
recommend to coHgress the expediency of an act 
declaring the existence of a state of war between the 
United States and the Dey of Algiers ; and of such 
provisions as may be requisite for a vigorous prose- 
cution of it to a successful issue.. 

JAMES MADISON. 
Washington^ Feb. 23, 1815. ' 

A law of congress was, after the usual forms, 
passed, empowering tlie President to take mea- 
sures for the prote' tioii of tlie eommerce and 
seamen of llie United States ; and also to employ 
the public armed vessels, and to commission pri- 
vate armed vessels, to act oifi nsively against the 
•vessels, goods, effects, and subjects of the Dey 
of Algiers. 

This measure was not adopted until after the 
most satisfactory assurances of the liosliiijy of 
the Dcyi and that he had actually put an end. hy 
liis unprovoked aggressions, to the treaty sub- 
sisting between him and the United States. In 
July, 1812, the Dey extorted from the American 
consul general, a large sum of money, in lieu of 
a quantity of military stores, which he refused to 
accept, falsely alledgingthat they were not equal 
in quality or quantity to those stipulated by the 
existing treaty ; and then compelled the consul 
and citizens of the United States to quit his do- 
minions. On the 25th August following, the 
American brig Edwin, of Salem, was taken hy 
an Algerine corsair, and carried into Algiers, as 
a prize. Mr. Pollard, of Norfolk, being found 
on board a Spanish vessel, was also detained as 
a citizen of the United States. Captain Smith, 
the master of the Kdwin, and Mr. Pollard, were 
not confined to hard labour ; but the rest of the 



APPENDIX. 315 

captams, with llie exception of two of them^ 
w hose release has been etR^cted, under cireiim- 
stanees not iiidicatingany change of hostile tem- 
per on the part of (he De J, were subjected to the 
well known horrors of yVlgerine slavery. An 
Jc^iH^i of the United States* government, to eifect 
tJie release of these citizens, hy treaty, and the 
payment of a large sum of money, had failed. 

There never was a war commenced with a 
greater share of general approbation; and it re- 
mained a wonder, that one public journal, (the 
Connecticut Mirror) should condemn a measure 
which had for its o!)ject the releasement from 
slavery of eleven American citizens, the punish- 
uiont of barbarians, justly detested by the civili- 
zed world; and the putting into glorious prac-^ 
tieo, the popnlar sentiment, ^r millions for de- 
feneCf but not a cent for tribute,*' 

A private letter from Lisbon, dated 2d May, 
4815, stated, on the authority of advices froui 
Cadiz, that the Algerine admiral had put to sea, 
with a fleet consisting of 4 frigates. 6 corvettes, 
3 brigs, 1 zebec, 1 schooner, 1 galley, 49 gurr- 
boats, and 11 bombards, in all 66 vessels, mount- 
ing 'i6o guns, and having on board 4745 men ; the 
supposed object was to cruise for American ves- 
sels. • 

_ The force destined by the United States, to 
punish tlie enemy, was to consist of the Inde- 
pendence, 7Jb, Guerriere, 4i, Macedonian, 38, 
Congress and Constellation, 36, Erie, Ontario, 
anxj Kpervier, IS, Chippewa, 16, Flambeau and 
Spark, 12, Spitfire and Torch, 10, and Lynx^ 
(lender)! long 2i ; in all 44 vessels, carrying 
490 guns. Some immaterial alteration was af-- 
terward mada in this arrangement. 



316 AP-PCNJDI^. 

On the 18th May, 1815, the Umted States' 
squadron, destined i\ir the Mediterranean, sailed 
from New-York: It consisted of the frigates 
Ouerriere, (com. Decatur's flag ship) captain 
Lewis ; Macedonian, captain Jones ; Constella- 
tion, captain Gordon ; sloop of war Ontario, 
captain Elliot; hrigs Epervier, captain Downs; 
Fire Ely, Rogers; Flambeau, Nicholson ; Spark, 
Gamble; schooners Spitfire, Dallas, and Torch, 
Chauncey. 

This squadron was followed by that under 
command of Com. Bainhridge, consisting of the 
Independence, 7i, sloop of war Erie, 18, brig 
Chippewa, 16, and schooner Lynx. 

The United States' brigs Boxer, Saranac, and 
Fnterprize sailed, in August, for the Mediterra- 
nean. The hi ig Firc-Fly had sailed some time 
previous for the same destination, but was com- 
pelled to return to repair damages sustained in a 
gale. The Ontario, and some of the light ves- 
sels arrived at Gibraltar on the 13th June, and 
Commodore Decatur, with the rest of his squad- 
ron, on the lith ; and, on the evening of that 
day, all the vessels proceeded to their destina- 
tion. 

The following letters will explain some of the 
proceedings in the Mediterranean. 

Copy of a letter from the American consul at Ali» 
cante, t-o the s^ecretary of state, dated, 

Micante^ June 21sr, 1815i 
Sir— I have the honour to inform you, that, by a 
letter this moment received from my vice-consul, 
Nicholas Briale, at Carthagena, I learn that the first 
division of our squadron, under commodore Decatur, 
had appeared off that port, and sent in an Algerine 
frigate of 44 guns and 500 men, captured off C ape 
dc Gatt, after a sharp engagemeijt, during which the 



uonimandei- of the Algerme was killed. Our loss 
consisted of four men. The Commodore had sect 
in a schooner for refreshment, and other necessaries, 
•with which she immediately sailed for the fleet. — - 
The prize must perform ten days quarantine. I 
shall set off within two hours for that place in order 
to make further provision for the fleet, if necessary, 
and render every other service in my power — from 
thence I shall have the honour of addressing you, 
and advise what furlher may occur. 

With sentiments of the highest respect, I am, sir? 
your most obedient servant, 

ROBERT MONTGOMERY. 
To the honourable the secretary of state. 

C^py of a letter from the American consul at Cadiz- 
to the secretary of state, dated 

Consulate of the United States, 
Cadii, June 27, 1815. 
Sir — -I have much pleasure in referring you to the 
subjoined statement, for the interesting and impor- 
(ant information it contains, which I doubt not, in a 
great part may be relied on. The informant addsj 
that about 40O prisoners had been landed from the 
prize frigate, and that but few had been saved from 
the brig. The wind being now from the S. W. 
makes it probable that the particulars of this actioa 
from the commodore, will not come to hand for some 
days. 
With much respect, I have the honour to be, 8cc 
RICH'D. S.HACKLEY. 
Hon. James Monroe^ secretary of state* 

A letter, of wliieh the fol'owing is a copy, au- 
nouneed the arrival of the American squadron 
at Gibraltar, after a passage of 2.^ days. 

Copy of a letter from Commoqore Decatur to the 
secretary of the navy, (received via Norfolk^ 
dat«dj 

Rb2 



318 ApriaNDix. 

United States* shift Gtierriere,) 
Off Gibraltar ^ June 15, 1815. 

Sir— -I have the honour to inform you of our ar- 
rival off this place on the I5th, after a passage of 25 
days, having previously communicated with Cadiz 
and Tangiers. The Spitfne, Torch, and Firefly, 
separated from the squadron during a gale of wind 
on the 26th ult. and the Ontario on the 3 1st. 

I am happy to find they have, with the exception of 
the Firefly, all arrived ; the latter vessel I fear may 
have lost her spars, and have returned to the United 
States. From all the information I can collect, I feel 
assured, that the Algerines have returned into the 
Mediterranean. The vessels that had separated from 
iiB, are now joining, and I shall proceed in search of 
the enemy forthwith. 

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, &c. 
STEPHEN DECATUR. 

The commodore lost no time in the prosecuj. 
tion of his object; scarcely arrived in the Medi- 
terranean^ he commenced to pay tribute to the 
barbarians, as will be best explained bj his letter 
to the secretary of war, of wliicli the following 
is a eopy : 
Extract of a tetter from conumodors Stephen Deca-^ 

tur, to the secretary of the navy y (received vVci. 

J\/'orfolk,J dated^ 

United States' ship Guerriere, 
Off Carthagena, June 19, 1815. 

^' i have the honour to inform you, that on the 17tb 
ijist. off Cape de Gatt, the squadron fell in with and 
captured an Algerine frigate of 46 «un, and between 4 
and 50Q men, commanded by Rais Hamroida, who 
bore the title of admiral ; she struck her flag after a 
running fight of 23 minutes. 

"The admiral was killed at the commencement oi 
the action. After the Guerriere (who from her fa- 
vourable position was enabled to bring the enemy to 
clpse acUoo)-had fired two broadsidesjth^ eneipy, with 



the exception of a few musketeers, ran below.' The 
Guerrierc had four men wounded by musket shot, 
which is the only injury done by the enemy in this 
affair. 

" We have 406 prisoners including the wounded. 
The prisoners state that about thirty were killed and 
thrown overboard. 
^ '• Their squadron is said to be cruising in our vi- 
cinity ; five days ago they were off this place, unless 
I obtain some further intelligence of them by to- 
morrow, I shall proceed to the port of Algiers, in 
the hopes to intercept their return. For the present^ 
1 have determined to send the prize into Carthagena." 

On the 20th June, the commodore comnumi- 
eated a second victory, in a letter, in the follow^ 
ing words : 

Copy of a letter from Commodore Decatur to the 
secretary of the navy, dated 

United States' ship, Guerriere, off 

Cape Palosy June 20, 1815. 

Sir— —I have the honour to inform you, that ©n the 
i9ih inst. off cape Palos, the squadron under my com- 
mand, captured an Algerine brig of twenty-two guns, 
and one hundred and eighty men. After a chase of 
three hours, she ran into shoal water, where I did 
not think it advisable to follow with our large ships, 
but despatched the Epervier, Spark, Torchj and Spit- 
fire, to whom she surrendered after a short resistance. 
Twenty-three men were found dead on board. We 
received from her eighty prisoners, the residue of 
her crew having left her in boats. Many of them 
must have been killed by the fire of our vessels, and 
one of the boats was sunk. None of our vessels 
sustained any damage, nor was there a man killed or 
wounded. This brig is larger than the Epervier— = 
was built ia Algiers, five years ago, by a Spanish coa- 
structor., the same who built the frigate captured on. 
the 17th inst. and is perfectly sound. 

I kave the honour to be, very respectfully, &c.. 
STEPHEN DEOATUR. 



Commodore Bainbridge arrived at Cai'tlragena 
earJy in August, >vith the second American squad- 
ron, whence he proceeded to Algiers, Tripoii, 
and Tunis, in order to Dmke a display of his 
force, the respectable appearance of which could 
not fall to make a deep, useful, and it may be 
hoped, a lasting impression. Haying performed 
this service, the commodore sailed to Malaga, 
and thence to Gibraltar, where he stopped some 
time, and reciprocated compliments with the 
British Commander in Chief, thence the squad- 
ron sailed for the United States, and arrived at 
Newport the 15th November. 
. Commodore Bainbridge was joined while at 
Malaga by all Commodore Decatur's squadron 
except his own ship. It was as gratifying to the 
American as it was probably mortifying to the 
Englishnjan, to sec such a ileet, in a British 
port, and that so soon after the termination of a 
war which was to have annihilated the " Lillipu- 
tian navy." 

On the arrival of the Heei at Gibraltar, an 
understanding was had between Commodore 
Bainbridge and the British commander, that a 
salute of fifteen guns would be fired from the 
squadron, and a like number returned from the 
fort. By mistake seventeen guns were tired 
from the Independence, the commodore immedi- 
ately despatched an officer to acquaint the com- 
mander of the mistake ; but before the officer 
reached the commandcF, orders were given to 
fire two more guns, in addition to the fifteen al- 
ready fired. This circumstance is material only 
as far as it goes to prove the distinguished re- 
spect shown to the American flag; a respect for 
the proud frtiit of determined yalour and con- 
summate prudence. 



APPENDIX. 321 

The situation in "Nvhieh the American charac- 
ter was about to be placedvVtas truly envious. — 
A few months after causing the greatest naval 
power in Europe to haul down its proud flag, 
the Americans were destined, by aid of the ships 
captured from England, to speak thunder to 
those piratical nionarehs of Afriea, to whom that 
very England was in the habit of paying tribute. 
It remained for America, infant America, the 
country of Washington and Franklin, to break 
up a system which was, if possible, more dis- 
graceful to the civilized nations who submitted 
to it, than to the barbarous states who imposed it» 
'But America, by the use she made of victory, 
has gained for herself an honour, and been rais- 
ed to a pinnacle of glory, to which no victory^ 
however splendid, could have raised her. The 
favourite maxim of the nation was and is " mil" 
lions for defence^ but not a cent for tribute,'^^^ 
True to this policy, she made it a sine qua non 
of peace, and this being concluded, the humbled 
enemy was permitted to take back those ships, 
which were to remain for ever innocent, as res- 
pected the great western nation. Which of the 
haughty masters of enslaved Europe has ever 
given such proof of magnanimity or of modera- 
tion in the midst of victory so complete ? 

Commodore Decatur arrived before Algiers, 
on the 29th June, and hoisted a flag of truce on 
board the Guerriere, with the Swedish flag at 
the main. A boat came oif with Mr. Norderling, 
consul of Sweden, and the captain of the port, 
to whom the capture of the frigate and brig was 
communicated, and to whom Commodore Deca- 
tur and William Thaler, Esq. acting as commis- 
sioners to negociate a peace, delivered a letter 
for the Dev, from fhc President of the United 



322 APPENDIX. 

Stales; and also a note from themselves? of 
which (he following is a copy : 

The American Commissioners to the Dey of Algiers, 
The undersigned have the honour to inform his 
highness the dey of Algiers, that they have been ap- 
pointed by the President of the United States of A-- 
merica : commissioners plenipotentiary to treat of 
peace with his highness, and that pursuant to their 
' ihstruciions, they are ready to open a negociation for 
the restoration of peace and harmony between the 
two countries, on terms just and honourable to both 
parties ; and they feel it incumbent on them to state 
explicitly to his highness, that they are instructed to 
treat upon no other principle, than that of perfect 
equality, and on the terms of the most favoured na- 
tions ; no stipulation for paying any tribute to Al- 
giers, under any form whatever, will be agreed to. 

The undersigned have the honour to transmit here- 
with, a letter from the President of the U. States, 
and they avail themselves of this occasion to assure 
Jiis highness of their high consideration and profound 
respect. 

The captain of the port then requested that 
hostilities should cease preceding the negotiation, 
and that perscns might he sent ashore to treat. 
Both propositions were rejected, the American 
commissioners declaring that the negotiations 
must be carried on, on board the fleet, and that 
hostilities as respected vessels, should not cease. 
On the follov/ing day, the Swedish corjsul and 
the captain of the port came onboard wilh full 
powers to nigotiate. The Ameriean commis- 
sioners produced <he model of a treaty which 
they declared would not he departed from in sub- 
stance. Every attempt on the part of Algiers^ 
to obtain a modification of it proved fruitless, 
even the restoration of the captured vessels was 
positively refused; Upon consideration, ho^y- 



APPENDIX. 323 

ever, the American commissioners resolved to 
restore the captured vessels as a favor, and not 
as matter of treaty, giving the Algerinc to un- 
derstand, thvit even this would depend on the 
signing of the treaty as presented. The Alge- 
rinc captain tliest proposed a truce, to deliherate 
on the proposed terms, the reply was «• not a 
minute; if your squadron appears in sight be- 
fore the ti'caty is actually signed by the dey, and 
the prisoners sent off, ours would capture them !" 
It was finally agreed that hostilities should cease 
when the Algerine boat should be perceived 
coming off with a white ilag hoisted, the Swed- 
ish consul pledging his word of honor not to 
hoist it unless the treaty was signed, and the 
prisoners in the boat. The Swedish consul and 
Algerine captain returned on shore, and although 
tha disiaaee was full five miles, they came back 
within three hours with the treaty signed, and 
having with them the prisoners who were to be 
released from captivity by the terms of the 
treaty. 

By the terms of this treaty, the dey has 
agreed : That " no trii)ute, either as biennial 
presents, or under any form or name wliatever, 
&ball ever be required by the dey and regency 
of Algiers, fi om the United States of America." 

That the dey shall deliver up to the Ameri- 
can sqtmdron " all the American citizens now 
in their possession, amounting to ten, more or 
less." 

<« A just and full compensation shall be made 
by the dey of Algiers, to such citizens of the 
United Slates as have been captured and detain- 
ed by Algerine cniizers, or who have been 
forced to abandon their property in Algiers, in 
violation of the twenty-second article of the 



S^ APPENDIX. 

treaty of peace and amity, concluded between 
the United States and the dey of Algiers, on 
the 5th of September, 1795." 

<* And it is agreed between the contracting 
parties, that in lieu of the above, tlic dey of 
Aljajiers shall cause to be delivered forthwith in- 
to the hands of the American consul, residing at 
Algiers, the whole of a quantity of bales of cot- 
ton, left by the late consul general of the United 
States, in the public magazines in Algiers, and 
that he shall pay into tlie hands of the said con- 
sul the sum often thousand Spanish dollars." 

^^ That no citizen or subject of either party, or 
their property if found on board the vessel of 
any power with which either may be hereaf(er 
at war, shall be detained or confiscated ; and, 
en no pretence, shall any citizen of the United 
States, be hereafter kept in a state of slavery by 
the dey,'* 

<< Tessels of either of the contracting pai'ties, 
putting into the ports of the other, and having 
need of provisions or other supplies, shall be 
furnished at the market price — and if any such 
vessel skould so put in from a distance at sea, 
and have occasion to repair, she sball be at li- 
berty to land, and re-embark her cargo, with- 
out paying any customs or duties whatever, but 
in no case shall she be compelled t© land her 
cargo." 

<^ That should a vessel of either of the cob- 
tracting parties be cast on shore within the ter- 
ritories of the other, all proper assistance shotilil 
be given to the crew — no pillage slmll he allow- 
ed.'' 

** The consul of the United States of Ame- 
wca shall not be responsible for the debts 
^^ntracted by citizens of his own nations unless 



APPENDIX. 323 

lie previously gives written obligations so to 
do." 

« That if any christian slaves should make 
their escape, and go on board any ship of war of 
the United States that may be before the city 
of Algiers, then shall not he required back agaitif 
nor shall any |xiyment be required for the said 
christians," 

** Tiiat as the government of the United 
States of America Iras in itself no character of 
enmity against i\\e laws, religion, or tranquillity 
of any nation, and as the said states have never 
entered into any voluntary war or act of hostili- 
ty, exiept in defence of their just rights on the 
high seas, it is declared by the conlracting par- 
ties, that no pretext arising from religious opi- 
iiions shall ever produce an interruption of the 
]iarmo:]y existing between the two nations ; and 
the consuls and agents of both nations shall have 
liberty to celebrate the rites of their respective 
religions in their own houses." 

<* The consuls respectively shall have iibcrty 
and personal security given them to travel with- 
in the territories of eaeh other, both by land 
and sea, and shall not be prevented from going 
on boai^ any vessels they may think proper to 
visit : they shall likewise have the liberty to ap- 
point their own dro.^o^nan and broker." 

*« In case of any dispute arising from the vio- 
lation of any of the articles of this treaty, no ap- 
peal shall be made to rirms. nor snail war be de- 
clared on any pretext whatever ; but if the con- 
sul residing at the place where the dispute shall 
happen, shall not be able to settle the same, the 
government of that ' ounlry shaU state their 
grievance in writing, and transmit tne same to 
the govemmenl of the othcr> and the period of 
c c 



^26 APPENDIX. 

ibree moiitbs shall be allowed for answers to bo 
returned, during wbicb time no hostility shall be 
permitted by either party ; and in case the 
grievances are not redressed, and a war should 
toe the event, the consuls and citizens and sub 
jects of both parties respectively, shall be per 
mitted to embark with their effects unmolested, 
on board of what vessel or vessels they shall 
think proper, reasonable time being allowed for 
that purpose." 

<<Jf in the course of events, a war should 
break out between the two nations, the prisoners 
captured by either party shall not be made 
slaves, they shall not be forced to hard labour, ^ 
or other confinement than suvh as may be ne- 
cessary to secure their safe keeping*, and shall 
be exchanged rank for rank ; and it is agreed 
that prisoners shall be exchanged in twelve 
months after their capture, and the exchange 
may be effected by any private individual, legally 
authorised by either of the parties." 

« If any of the Barbary states or other powers 
at war with the United States, sliull capture 
any American vessel, and send her into any \)urt 
of the regency of Algiers, they shall not be per- 
ir.itted to sell her, but shall be forced ^o dep:irt 
the port, on procuring the requis-iie supplies of 
provisions; but the vessels of war of tiie United 
States, with any prizes they may cajiture from 
their enemies shall have liberty to u'^quent the 
ports of Algiers, for refreshments of iiny kind, 
and to sell such prizes, in the sakl ports, wMiout 
any other customs or duties, than sueh as are 
customary en ordinary commeicial in?.porta- 
tions." 

« If any of the citizens of the United S'.i.tes, or 
my persocs under their proteclion, shall have 



APPENDIX. 3£: 

iiny iiispuies, whb each otlier, the consul shall 
decide between the parties; and whenever the 
consul shall require any aid or assistance from 
the government of Algiers, to enforce his deci 
sions, it shall he immediately granted to him 5 
and if any disputes shall arise between any citi- 
zens of the United States and the citizens or 
subjects of any other nation haviiig a consul or 
agent in Algiers, sui*h disputes shall be settled by 
the consuls or agents of the respective nation j 
and any disputes or suits at law, that may take 
piace between any citizens of the United States 
and the subjects of the regency of Algiers, shall 
be decided by the dey in person, and no other." 

«^Ifa citizen of the United States should kill, 
wound, or strike a subject of Algiers, or, on the 
contrary, a subject of Algiers should kill, wound, 
or strike a citizen of the United States, the law 
of the country shall take place, and equal jus- 
tice shall be rendered, the consul assisting at the 
trial ; but the sentence of punishment against an 
American citizen shall not be greater or more 
severe, than it >vould be against a Turk in the 
same predicament : and if any delinquent should 
make his escape, the consul shall not be reepon- 
sible for him in any manner whatever." 

<< The consul of the Uaiied States of Arae- 
yica shall not be required to pay any cusvoais or 
duties whatever on any thing he imports from a 
foreign country for the use of his house and 
family." 

" Should any of the citizens of the United 
States of America die within the limits of the 
regency of Algiers, the dey and liis subjects shall 
not interfere with the property of the deceased, 
but it shall be under the immediate direction of 
the con&ul, unless otherwise disposed of by will." 



328 APPENDIX* 

The historian lias an unpleasant task, in bq.- 
ing compelled to close the delail of such glorious 
exploits, hy recounting a misfortune which, 
while it takes nothing from the lustre of our 
arms, sinks grief deep into the heart of the 
citizen. 

The United States armed in defence of their 
Kationai rights, and tlie liberty of the citizen. 
From the deck of his floating battery, Decatur 
demanded the release of his fellow citizens held 
in hondage : the African tyrant tremhied, the 
citizen's chains fell iiom his limbs, and he was 
treed — ^but, alas ! the exultation was momentary. 

The United States' brig of war Epervier w as 
despatched to the United States to announce the 
glad tidings, but she did net reach her destina- 
tion. She sailed en the 10th July, was seen on 
the 8th August in lat. 39, 4, N. long. 61, 18, W. 
under double reefed topsivils ; the next day there 
was a very heavy blow, and she probably foun- 
dered during the gale ; if not then, she must 
have heen lost hy some subsequent mishap, as 
from the length of time since she was seen, no 
hope remaias of her safety ; and not one sur- 
vived to tell the mournful event. On hoard her 
were Lt. com. Shuhrick ; lieut. Barnwell } lieut. 
Drury ; sailing master Wright ; midshipmen 
Coulter, and Hunter, and several others. Pas- 
sengers, eapt. Lewis ; lieuts. IVeal and Yarnell. 
The Americans released at Algiers w ere also on 
board. 



THE i:ND, 



32-9- 



INDEX. 



Accomack (Va.) miliiia, bravery of, 224. 
Act declaring war, 19 ; vote of Congress, 17. 

Adams frigate, destruction of, 249. 

Adams and Caledonia (brigs) retaken from the en- 
emy, 58. 

Alert, British sloop of war, taken by the Essex, 46. 

Alexandria, plunder of, 231 ; bold attempt by com- 
modore Rodgers, captains Perry and Porter, to 
prevent the return of the enemy, ib, 

Algerine declaration of war, 305. 

Algerines, proceedings against, by the United States, 
see Appendix. 

Allen, captain, bravery of, 242. 

Appendix, 313. 

Argus, U. S. brig, capture of, 148. 

Armistice on the northern frontier, 41 ; terminaticn 
of, 42. 

Army, state of the, 21. 

Arrest of a supposed spy, 31. 

Asp, U. S. schooner, brave defence of, 177. 

Baltimore, r^pproach to, and attack on, 232. 

Barbarity of the enemy, 102, 184. 

Barney, commodore, encounters of, with the enemy., 
225, 226 ; destruction of his flotilla, 328. 

Barratarians, capture and dispersion of, 293. 

Beaver dams, engagement at, 101. 

Belfast entered by the enemy, 250. 

Blackrock visited by the enemy, 104. 

Blue lights, 193. * 

Boxer, British brig, taken by the Enterprize, 149. 

Burrows and Blythe, captains, funeral honours to, 15i-. 

Bridgewater, battle of, 255. 

Belview fort ; see fort Belview. 

Boyd, general, succeeds general DearboriT, 107. 
cc 3 



330 INDEX. 

British subjects, order respecting, 26. 
Brownstown, battle at, 40. 

Castine taken by the enemy, 249. 

Cedar-point, landing of enemy at, 225. 
Champlain, arrival of grand British army at, 267 ;' 
arrival of before Plattsburgh, 268 ; engagement 
•with the American army, 271 ; retreat of the ene- 
my, 272. 

Champlain lake, engagement on, 269. 

ChaHdler and Winder, generals, capture of, 96. 

Chapin, captain, escape of, 103 ; skirmish with the 
enemy, 108; expedition of, against the enemy, 
109 ; affair near fort George, 156. 

Chaptico, affair at, 237. 

Chateaugay, battle at, 137. 

Chauncey, commodore, cruises and transactions of, on 
lake Ontario, 71, 83, 1 10 to 115. 

Chesapeake frigate, restoration of the seamen of, by 
the enemy, 26 ; arrival of, from a cruise, 79 ; cap- 
ture of, 90 ; extract from a French paper respect- 
ing, 94 J treatment of the crew of, 96. 

Chesapeake bay, transactions in the, 182. 

Chicago, attack on, and massacre at, 66. 

Chippewa, skirmishing near, 251 ; battle at, 252. 

Citizens of the U. States ordered to quit Canada, 45. 

Commissioners to negotiate a peace, appointment of, 
300 ; by the British government, 301. 

Congress, proceedings of, 16, 194. 

Congress, frigate, arrival of, from a cruise, 193. 

Constitution, frigate, 28 ; engagement of, with the 
Java, 72. 

Cranberry creek, affair at, 108. 

Crogan, major George, defence of Lower Sandusky, 
by, 129. 

Cumberland Island, landing of the enemy at, 294>i 

Cuyler, major, death of, 59. 

Cyane and Levant, British sloops, capture of, 29^ 

Dart, British armed sloop, capture of, 191. 

Bartinoor p.rison, massacre at, 302.- 



INDEX. 331 

Dearborn, general^ retires from the army, 107. 

Dearborn, fort, massacre at, see Chicago. 

Decatur, commodore, fleet under command of, sails 
from New-York, 185; chased into New-London, 
186. 

Declaration of war by the Six Nations of Indians, 106. 

Detention of prisoners of war, by the enemy, under 
pretext that they were British subjects, reprisal's, 
212, 213 ; proceedings of Congress thereon, 213. 

Detroit, surrender -jf, 38. 

Dominico, British schooner, capture of by the U. S. 
schooner Decatur, 147. 

Duel, 55. 

Eagle, British tender, capture of the, 190. 

Eastport, taken by the enemy, 244. 

Eidridge, lieutenant, and several of his men killed 
by the Indians, 1-05. 

Epervier, British brig, taken by the U. S. sloop of 
war Peacock, 273 ; loss of the, 328. 

Erie, British fort, taken by the iVmericans, 86, 250 ; 
attempt of the enemy to storm, 258 ; batteries of 
the enemy stormed, by order of general Brown; 
261 ; evacuated, 267. 

Essex frigate, cruise of, 46, 276. 

Extracts from public prints, 20, 25. 

Federal Gazette, destruction of the office of the, at 
Baltimore, 25. 

Flotilla^ for the protection of the Chesapeake bay, 223. 

Fort Belview, desperate attack on, 67. 

Fort Bowyer, attack of, 281, 296. 

Fort Erie, see Erie. 

Fort George, taken by the Americans, 84, 85 ; at- 
tack on pickets at, 106, 109. 

Fort Schlosser, entered by the enemy, 106. 

Fort Philip, defence of, 288. 

Fort Warburton, evacuation and destruction of, 231, 

Forty-mile-creek, transactions at, 99, 

Foster, Mr. (British minister^ departure of, 27. 



332 IJ*DE5. 

Franklin boat, brave defence of, 239. 

Frederick and Georgetown, (Md.) burned, 170, 

French-mills, affair at, 59. 

Frenchtown (Raisin) massacre o f prisoners at, 69. 

Frenchtovvn (Elk river) burned, 169. 

Frolic, British sloop, taken by the Wasp, 61 ; both 
sloops taken by the Poictiers, 62. 

Frolic, U. S. sloop, taken by the enemy, 274. 

Gaines, general, assumes the command at Erie, 259. 

Gardner*s Island, affair at, 188. 

Gennesee river, captures on, 61. 

George's Island, landing of the enemy thereon, 183. 

Georgia legislature, proceedings of, 197. 

Georgetown burned by the enemy, 170. 

Ghent, negociations at, 301. 

Growler and Eagle, U. S. sloops, taken by the enemy 
on Lake Champlain, 133. 

Growler and Julia, U, S. vessels, captured by the 
enemy on Lake Ontario, 1 12. 

Guerriere, British frigate, capture of, 42. 

Gun-boat No. 121, taken by the enemy, 180. 

Gun-boats near New-Orleans, taken by the enemy, 
282. 

<Sun-boats, attacks by, on the enemy near Sandy- 
Hook and New-London, 241. 

Hamilton and Scourge, U. S. schooners, foundered 
on Lake Ontario, 111. 

Hampton, barbarous pioceedings of the enemy at, 173. 

Hardy, British commodore, blockades the coast of 
New-England, 240. 

Harrison, Wm. Henry, appointed to the command of 
the North Western army, 66 ; takes Fort Maiden, 
123 ; pursues the enemy, 124 ; overtakes and de- 
feats him at the Moravian towns, 115 ; discharges 
the militia, 129 ; arrives with his army at Black- 
rock, 129. 

Harrison fort, attack of, 67. 

Havre-de-grace, transactions of the enemy atj 169, 

Historical retrospect, 7 



INDEX. 333 

Hornet, U. S; sloop, blockades the Bonne Citoyenne 
in the harbour of St. Salvador, 75 ; engages and 
captures the British brig of war Peacock, ib ; 
challenges captain Greene of the Bonne Citoy- 
enne, 79. 
Hull, general, appointed to comnnand the North 
Western army, 33 ; seizure of his baggage and 
hospital stores, 34 / invades Canada, ib ; his proc- 
lamation, z3 ; transactions in Canada, 37 ; evacua- 
tion of Canada, ib ; effect on the public mind, 65 ; 
his trial, 215. 

Imprisonment of American citizens taken under 
arms, on the plea of their being British subjects, 
212; retaliation, f<5 ; report on the subject mac^e 
to Congress, by the secretary of state, 213. 

Indians, North Western, expeditions against, 67; 
sue for peace, 124,- inquiry by Congress respect- 
ing, 194; southern, hostility of, 195; engage- 
ments with, 195, 19^0, 198j 199, to 201; peace with^ 
211. 

Intercourse, crimipal, with the enemy, 181. 

Izard, general, march of, from Plattsburgh to Hew- 
York, 265. 

Jackson, general, commands the forces sent against 
the southern Indians, 198. 

Kent Island, in the Chesapeake, taken possession of 
by the enemy, 182. 

La Cole, engagement at, 218. 

Lawrence, captain, blockades the Bonne Citoyenne, 
75 ; captures the brig of war Peacock, ib. death 
of, 91 ; honours to his memory, 93, 94. 

Lewis, commodore, drives the enemy from Long.- 
Island Sound, 189 ; engages the enemy, 241. 

Lewistown, requisition on, 168; bombardment of, 169. 

Little York, in Canada, taken by the Americans, 83. 

Long point, expedition to, 223. 

Lower Marlborough, burning of property at, 226. 
M'Clure, address of, to the patriots of the western 
district, 155; operations of, 155, 157, 158; justi- 
fies his conduct, 164. 



33* INDEX. 

M'Kcon, captain, brave conduct of, 165. 
M'Donough, commodore, defeats the enemy on 

Lake Champlain, 269. 
Macedonian, British frigate, capture of, 63. 
Maguago, battle of, 41 . 
Uassasquoi bay, affair at, 146. 
Meigs, fort, attack of, 80. 

Michilimackinac, taken by the enemy, 28 ; expedi- 
tion against, 263 ; barbarous conduct of the ene- 

my to prisoners, 265. 
MimSjfort, massacre of the garrison of, 196. 
^lix, Mr. attempt of, to destroy the Plantagenet by 

a torpedo, 1/8, 
Mobile, taken by general Wilkinson, 295. 
Moravian towns, battle at the, 125. 
Mount Desart, affair at, 243. 
Nautilus, U. S. schooner, taken by the enemy, 27. 
Navy, list of, 21, 306, 
Negroes, seizure of, 184. 
New-Orleans, approach of the enemy to, and battle 

near, 282. 
New-York, meeting in the park of, 247 ; voluntary 

work on the fortification of, 248. 
Niagara, fort, cannonade of, 54; frontier ravaged by 

the enemy, 159y defence of by captain M'Keon, 

165 ; taken by the enemy, 159. 
Norfolk, attack of, 170 ; affair near, 185. 
North Carolina, invasion of, 178. 
O'Boyle, James, offers a reward for the head or ears 

of Admiral Cockburn, 176. 
Odeltown, engagement at, 218. 
Ogdensburg, bombardment of, 60, 
0*Neil, conduct of, at Havre-de-Gracc, 170. 
Oswego, fort, attack of, 219. 
Otter-creek, defence of, 223. 
Owl-head-narrowb, affair at, 186. 
Pagan creek, the enemy repulsed at, 1 76, 
Paris taken, 216 ; effect on the war, 21,6. 239; 
Penny, Joshua, taken by the enemy, 189, 



Pensacoia entered by the Anierican army, 296. 

Perry, commodore, defeats and captures the enemy 
on lake Erie, 117 ; statement of the force of the 
American and British fleets, 119; laconic letter 
121 ; co-operates with general Harrison, 123. 

Pettipaug, capture of, by the enemy, 240. 

Pike, general, death of, 83. 

Placard, 146. 

Platts'jurg entered by the enemy, 153.; battle atj 
271. 

Point Petre, carried by storm, 294. 

Preface, 3. 

Preparation for war, 29. 

President's message, 14. 

President frigate, captured by the enemy, 297. 

Pre vest, general, proclamation by, 45. 

Prizes, number of, C:»ptured during the war, 308. 

Pultneyville, enemy at, -' 2. 

Queenstown, (Chesapeake bay,) entered by the en- 
emy, 183. 

Queenston, battle of, 46 to 51. 

Recruiting commenced, 30. 

Reindeerj British brig, taken by the Wasp, 274. 

Rodgers, commodore, cruise of, 22, 74, 153. 

Russian mediation, 300. 

Sacket's Harbour, attack of, 43, 88. 

Sand hills, aftair at, 183. 

Sandy creek, affair at, 221. 

Saybrook, attempt of the enemy to land at, 188. 

Snituate, enemy at, 243. 

Sv-under's, Mr. attempt to destroy the Ramilies, 187. 

Sm-yth, general, proclanation of, 52 ; preparation 
for a descent on Canada, 55, abdncions the design, 
ib. his motiveSi ib. statement by general Porter, 
56; duel ib. reply of general Smyth to general 
Porter's statement, 57, 

Squam, enemy at, 244. 

Stoneycreeky battle of, 96; retreat of the Americats 
army, 98. 

St. Lawrence, successful cruise on, IQf, 



336 INDEX. 

St. Lawrence, a Biitisb ship of 90 guns, on lake On- 
tario, 266. .4 

St. Injgoes, latffling of the enemy at, 238. 

St. Michaels (Chesapeake Bay) attack on, 182. 

St. Mary's, capitulation of, 294. 

St. Mary's river, transactions on, 297. 

Stonington, the enemy's dash at, 244. 

Suspension of hostilities, 41. 

Syren, U S. brig, capture of, by the enemy, 299. 

Tecumseb, death of, 128. 

Tennessee legislature, resolution of, 197 

Treat, captain, dismissal from die army, 251 ; trial 
and acquittal of, 252. 

Treaty of peace ratified, 302. 

United States and Macedonian, frigates, and Horneti, 
sail from New-York, 186; chased into New-Lon- 
don, z6. 

Van Rensselaer enters Canada, 46 ,• takes a redoubt 
on the heights of Queenston, 48 ,• defeat and 
surrender of the American army, 50 ; treatment 
of prisoners, S\ ; resignation of the general, ib ; 
report of colonel Mullany, note, 49. 

Vermont, governor of, calls home the militia from 
the service of the United States, 192. 

Viper, United States' brig, taken by the enemy, 75. 

Vixen, U. S. brig, taken by the enemy, 65. 

Wai>declared by proclamation, 19. 

Warren, admiral arrival of, at Halifax, 167 ; off N. 
York, ib. blockades the Chesapeake bay, and Dela- 
ware, 168 ; blockades Long-Island sound, 192. 

Washington city, approach t<J, ?.nd capture of, by 
the enemy, 227, to 23 1. 

W'etherford, speech of, 211. 

Wilkinson general, proceeds toward Montreal, 135 ; 
abandons the design, and goes into winter quar- 
ters, 144. 

Williamsburgh, battle of 141, 1X5. 

Williams, Mrs bravery of, 135. 

Winchester, general, defeat of, at Frenchtown, 63 ; 
massacre of his men, 69. 



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